[eastsider]

Vermonts domestic partner ... recognition was struck down in NJ ...

I hope this means that the "Battle over same-sex marriage [taking] shape in Jersey" is over before it's even been joined!

[streamline]

I come from Vermont and I can tell you that the civil union law has had little or no effect on life in our state. To be sure, some gay and lesbian residents have applied for and received licenses for civil unions and out-of-staters have come in for civil union ceremonies (that are not valid in their home states). But strangely, the plague of flies or whatever nonsense we were promised hasn't taken place. The bottom line is that our state has merely decided to recognize the legal rights of our gay and lesbian citizens. It's no big deal.