Tim and Andy’s Wedding video: I made this video to represent all of the civil unions I have photographed in Vermont and to celebrate all of the same sex weddings I will now be able to shoot after September 1, 2009.

Children from in and around Williston gathered at the Central School Saturday for the town’s annual Easter Egg Hunt on the town green. The kids were divided into three age groups, and surely the most competive was the 6-9 year old group. With a shout of “GO”, the egg-crazy kids raced onto the green and scooped up hundreds of plastic eggs filled with goodies. The grounds were cleared in just minutes!















HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!!!!
My family celebrates Passover each year with our neighbors and friends in Hinesburg and we take turns hosting. This year, our wonderful neighbors up the road, Bruce and Barbara Hicken, opened their home and hearts and we all celebrated, feasted, laughed and debated the meaning of certain prayers and rituals in the Haggadah (The Passover prayerbook). It was a wonderful night.

The seder plate

You break the middle matzo (called the Afikomen) and then the custom is to hide half of it somewhere in the house for the kids to hunt for after dinner.












The Afikomen is found…well, the crumbs, anyway!

Next year in Jerusalem (but Hinesburg’s ok, too!)
Marriage equality passes in Vermont!!! The final vote? 100-49. It can’t get much closer than that…Congratulations, Vermont and to everyone who helped make this day possible!!! MARRIAGE EQUALITY– what a wonderful phrase!


Mary Hurlie of Hinesburg looks toward the heavens for some help before the vote…

Governor Douglas confers in his office before the vote…he did not come out and address the crowd after the vote was held.

Rev. Mitchell Hay of the United Methodist Church in Essex Junction and James Neiley, Youth board member of OUTRIGHT VERMONT talk before the vote.




Reps Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, Rep. Johanna Donovan, D-Burlington and Burlington’s Sandy Baird talk before the vote.



Chase Wilson, shawn lipenski and Hannah Hauser

Rep. Jason Lorber, D-Burlington lets loose a small smile as he keeps track of the votes being counted…

(from left): VT. Freedom To Marry’s Sherry Corbin, Atty Beth Robinson, Atty. Susan Murray and Atty. Deb Lashman react as the Vote passes in the House




supporters of Marriage Equality react to the vote count!

A tearful Hannah Hauser reacts in the balcony

Rep Jason Lorber is all smiles after the vote!

Elaine Parker of Plainfield gives a thumbs up to VT


Rep. Steve Howard, D-Rutland, one of the OUT members of legislature, ios congratulated after the vote…

Rev. Sherry Osborn calls her spouse on the phone after the vote. “We can get married,” she yells into the phone!

Jeremy Brown and Diane Fuchs celebrate after the vote

Beth Robinson addresses supporters after the historic vote!

The amazing Beth Robinson is recognized by supporters after the historic vote!




Diane Zeigler of Kimbell, Sherman, Ellis listens in. Zeigler is one of the many Behind-the-scene people who have worked tirelessly to make this day a reality!!


Freedom To Marry volunteer Sheryl Rapee-Adams applauds




Senators John Campbell and Peter Shumlin acknowledge the crowd

Senate president Peter Shumlin
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Senator John Campbell speaks to the media


Vt Freedom To Marry field coordinator Robyn Maguire


Sandi and Bobbi Cote-Whitacre of Georgia celebrate the outcome of the vote. The two have been together for 42 years, without the rights and priviledges that come with being married.


Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg


Beth Robinson and Sherry Corbin give each other a congratulatory hug!

Steve Kimbell and his staff at Kimbell Sherman Ellis took on this issue Pro Bono and have been working constantly to make this historic day in Vermont a reality!!! Thank you Kimbell Sherman Ellis staff!!!

It is so important to say that this couldnt have happened without the 10 years of constant and dilligent work by the members of the Vermont Freedom To Marry Taskforce. Please visit their website and congratulate them on helping to make the world a better place to live.
Sarah Moran and her team at Cloud 9 Caterers put on a 5-star food tasting Saturday for their clients and associates, and Executive Chef Nicholas Logan outdid himself in both taste and presentation.
Cloud 9 has a reputation for food that is eclectic and contemporary and they are committed to using and promoting organic, locally produced ingredients.
You ever heard anyone say, “I work for food?” Well, when it comes to Sarah’s food, I do! YUM…









Cloud 9 Executive chef Nicolas Logan prepares a plate of food.


Owner Sarah Moran poses with the event planner at Shelburne Farms


Emily Robinson, general manager of Cloud 9, talks with a bridal couple about the menu for their summer wedding.



Party planner Bethany Lieberman of Williston




Chief of Protocol and Administrator of University Events Leslie Logan, left, talks with University of Vermont president Dan Fogel, center.


Sarah works the crowd…




cupcakes by pastry chef Stephanie Olson

yummy deserts by pastry chef Stephanie Olson


Cloud 9 owner Sarah Moran poses with her son Stephen

Executive chef Nicholas Logan and his wife, Leslie Logan

The vote to pass the Marriage Equality in the Vermont Legislature was 95-53, but it is still not enough to override Gov. Douglas’ VETO. PLEASE CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS and URGE THEM to Vote YES on the Override vote next week!!! For more information on the fight for Marriage Equality in Vermont, please visit The Vermont Freedom To Marry Website . Here are some highlights from Thursday’s debate and vote:


Shay Totten of Seven Days Newspaper and Glenn Russell from the Burlington Free Press cover the events of the day.
Supporters Middlebury College Assistant Professor of Religion Rebecca Gould and Mary Hurlie, Assoc Director for Alumni Career Services at Middlebury College watch the debate from the balcony.

Huddle time at the Speaker’s Podium.

Kevin Ellis of the government relations and public affairs firm Kimbell, Sherman, Ellis is all smiles during a break in the action.


Rep. David Zuckerman, D- Burlington

Rep. Johanna Donovan, D-Burlington, speaks passionately for Marriage Equality

Rep. Steve Howard, D-Rutland, one of the OUT members of legislature, speaks from his heart about the importance of the bill.

Burlington Free Press photographer Glenn Russell (L) and Associated Press photographer Toby Talbot


Rep. Tim Jerman, D-Essex Junction, asks for the members of the legislature to pass the bill, so he hcan see his lesbian daughter marry the woman she loves in Vermont.

Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, enjoys a humorous moment during the House debate on the bill.

Supporters of Marriage Equality filled the House chamber to watch the debate.

Outright Vermont Executive Director Christopher Neff, center, pays close attention to the action.

A tearful Rep. Jason Lorber, D-Burlington, also an opening Gay member of the legislature, addresses his fellow representatives.


Lorber gets a hug after his speech.

Rep. Bill Lippert, D-Hinesburg, gets serious. Lippert, who is opening Gay, was instrumental in the passing of the Civil Union law nine years ago and is now fighting to show that that the Marriage Equality Bill needs to pass and that SEPARATE IS NOT EQUAL.




Middlebury lawyer Beth Robinson, the driving force behind the Vermont Freedom To Marry Taskforce, talks to supporters after the vote on Thursday. Today was a success, she says, but the fight is not over and a lot of work needs to be done to find those few extra votes needed to overturn Gov. Douglas’ expected VETO of the bill.




Atty. Susan Murray of the firm Langrock, Sperry and Wool listens to Beth Robijnson speak to supporters after the vote. Murray and Robinson were the two leading attorneys in the fight for Civil Unions nine years ago.

Robyn Maguire, field director for Vt. Freedom To Marry Taskforce, listens to the post vote discussion.

Speaker of the House Shap Smith addresses supports of the bill after Thursday’s vote.

Tomorrow is another day. Keep fighting the good fight…
Burlington was the site of one of many vigils around Vermont Sunday, with over 250 people gathering at the Unitarian Universalist Church. The crowd cheered as they listened to members of the clergy, state reps. David Zuckerman and Mark Larson, and others. The message was clear: If Governor Douglas felt that this issue was “a distraction”, then he hadnt seen anything yet!



( from left) Caren Waxman, Chris Soulier and Gillian Pieper attend the vigil

State Reps Mark Larson (left) and Bill Lippert

Students Chuck Masters, Sophie Orion, Emma Riesner

17-7ear-old James Neiley, youth board member for OUTRIGHT VERMONT talks about wanting to “grow up and get married.“



Rev. Adrienne Carr of the First Congregational Church in Burlington


VT. Freedom To Marry’s Sherry Corbin

Yours truly (yes, Karen Pike) tells a story about how years ago an event happened that put her family in the national spotlight in the fight for Gay rights.

State Rep. David Zuckerman, D-Burlington

Rev. Mitchell Hay of the United Methodist Church in Essex Junction

OUTRIGHT VERMONT executive director Chris Neff, right, and youth member James Neiley.

Rev. Roddy Cleary

Rev. Gary Kowalski of the Unitarian Universalist church of Burlington




Jay Pasakow of Burlington, claps in support.

State Rep. Mark Larson


Rev. Mitchell Hay of the United Methodist Church in Essex Junction leads the crowd in a prayer for unity and quality.
The face of the scary Gay family: Annie, Susie and Zeelie