Fifty-four percent of Vermont residents would support a law allowing gay couples to get married, according to a new poll conducted by a survey conducted by a Johnson State College political science professor. While 37 percent of respondents did not support marriage equality, the number of people who did grew by eight percent over 2007.

The report arrives as a state commission prepares to recommend whether or not Vermont’s civil union law should be changed to full-fledge marriage.

365 Gay reports:

The commission studying same-sex marriage will present its report to the legislature next month. Members have been close-lipped on what they will recommend.

The commission was set up last year to look into Vermont’s civil unions law to see if it is providing equality for gay and lesbian couples and to determine if the law should be amended to provide for same-sex marriage.

It is chaired by former state Rep. Tom Little (D). When he was a member of the legislature Little was chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, when it passed the law legalizing civil unions in 2000.

At hearings throughout the state commissioners were told that while the state’s civil union law – the first of its kind in the nation – was a step forward same-sex couples still are not equal.

Although the committee will present its report to the legislature in April nothing is expected to be done about it until after the election. That would mean that if the committee recommends gay marriage legislation there is no likelihood of a bill before 2009.