In 1999, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that same-sex couples must receive the same legal benefits and protections as married opposite-sex couples, leading Vermont to create the nation's first civil unions in 2000. In 2009, Vermont became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage through a vote of its legislature. Today, this milestone is commemorated by the "Vermont Equality for Same-Sex Couples" historic marker on the lawn between the Vermont State House and the Vermont Supreme Court in Montpelier.