Susan Murray and Beth Robinson represented three Vermont same-sex couples in the groundbreaking case Baker v. State of Vermont, in which the Vermont Supreme Court recognized the constitutional right of same-sex couples to the benefits and protections of civil marriage. Before filing the case in 1997, Susan and Beth co-founded the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force, a non-profit educational organization committed to educating Vermonters about the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Following the Baker decision in December, 1999, the two spearheaded the statewide lobbying effort that ultimately led to the passage of Vermont’s landmark civil union law. Susan and Beth remain active in the struggle to protect the civil union law, and its protections for many Vermont families, managing a political action committee that promotes supportive candidates.

Susan and Beth are available to speak on college and law school campuses, and for other organizations. Their speaking venues have included, among other places, Cornell Law School, Michigan Law School, Dartmouth College, University of North Carolina Law School, Duke Law School, Elon College, Wake Forest Law School, Wake Forest Law School faculty luncheon, University of Montana Law School, University of Montana, Montana State University, University of Denver School of Law, Washburn Law School, University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Middlebury College, University of Vermont, St. Michael’s College, Center College, University of Louisville Law School, University of Kentucky and University of Kentucky Law School, and Harvard Medical School. (References from visits available on request.)

Their publications include: Bonauto, Murray and Robinson, “The Freedom to Marry For Same-Sex Couples: The Opening Appellate Brief of Plaintiffs Stan Baker et al in Baker et al. v. State of Vermont,” 5 Michigan Journal of Gender & Law 409 (1999); Bonauto, Murray and Robinson, “The Freedom to Marry For Same-Sex Couples: The Reply Brief of Plaintiffs Stan Baker et al. in Baker et al. v. State of Vermont,” 6 Michigan Journal of Gender & Law 1 (1999); Robinson, “The Road to Inclusion for Same-Sex Couples: Lessons from Vermont,” 11 Seton Hall Constitutional Law Journal 237 (Spring, 2001).

For more information about scheduling a visit, contact Susan Murray or Beth Robinson.