March 29, 2004

60-40 NATION:

Mass. takes step toward gay marriage ban (AP, 3/29/04)

The Massachusetts Legislature adopted a new version of a state constitutional amendment Monday that would ban gay marriage and legalize civil unions, eliminating consideration of any other proposed changes.

The vote came at the opening of the third round of a constitutional convention on the contentious issue, as competing cries of "Jesus Christ" and "Equal Rights" shook the Statehouse outside the legislative chamber.

Lawmakers had voted earlier this month in favor of a similar amendment. The revised version adopted Monday would ask voters to simultaneously ban gay marriage and legalize civil unions — rather than taking those steps separately. It clarifies that civil unions would not grant federal benefits to gay couples.


That even MA can pass at least some kind of amendment is a sign of hope.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 29, 2004 5:43 PM
Comments

MA is heavily Dem but I think it is also Catholic which may be offsetting the Dem tendency to support gay marriage. If MA passes this does it let Kerry off the hook or is he still exposed to the gay marriage issue at the Boston convention?

Posted by: AWW at March 29, 2004 10:35 PM

Nice of them to pose the question this way. No reason to allow those pesky voters to say "no" to both SSM and civil unions.

Posted by: ray at March 29, 2004 10:48 PM

AWW --

It depends on how much the party activists want to control their natrual tendancies. As I said on another thread, the Democrats were desperate enough in 1992 so that their activists muzzled themselves while Clinton was running for office. Ideally, they'd do the same thing for Kerry, but given their near-psychotic hatred of Bush, it's hard to see supporters of gay marriage, or other fringe agenda items, being willing to shut their mouths for seven months while Bush makes statments against their goals.

Posted by: John at March 29, 2004 11:00 PM

Ray above is correct, and so I still can't be very optimistic on this subject. (Obviously there are two subjects, 1. homosexuals, and 2. the hysterical, judicial riot that is going on right under your d*mn eyes.)

Posted by: h-man at March 30, 2004 7:27 AM

Gay marriage is a done deal in Massachusetts. The marriages will be performed starting in May. I doubt that the voters, faced with this question after 2 years of gay marriage, will vote for the amendment, assuming that the legislature passes it again next year, which is also unlikely.

Posted by: David Cohen at March 30, 2004 9:10 AM
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