Source: Human Rights Campaign
WASHINGTON — Today, during a joint session, Massachusetts lawmakers voted 151 to 45 to defeat a measure that would have placed a discriminatory, anti-marriage constitutional amendment before voters on the November 2008 ballot. The proposed amendment threatened to undo the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s historic 2003 decision making the state the first to recognize marriage equality for same-sex couples.
This appears to have been a fair vote — no interruptions or parliamentary tricks were allowed and yet the measure was soundly defeated. Is it possible the people of Massachusetts simply believe allowing same-sex marriage is the fair and decent, even American thing to do?
Amazing news! Finally the first (and most difficult) hurdle is done with. Well, the second if you count the utter defeat of the FMA.
Massachusetts voters and legislators have seen that the sky has not fallen since gay marriage became legal. But more than that, I think they wanted to avoid a referendum campaign that would have pulled in every anti- and pro- gay marriage force in the country.
That’s been the major argument in public statements by Massachusetts leaders–if gay marriage goes on the ballot, the political battle will dominate the state for the next 18 months. I can imagine that even people who personally oppose gay marriage dreaded the idea of unleashing a circus that would have matched the craziness around Theresa Schiavo’s hospice.
There’s a difference between doing the right thing and doing it for the right reasons.
Stated differently, this vote was not necessarily as “clean” as you may think.
I am relieved but not happy.
Kip, I don’t disagree with your first two points (in you linked post), about the cajoling and strong arm “bargaining” that goes on in politics, but these are SOP. Doesn’t make it right but it shouldn’t necessarily be held up as a smear against this particular vote.
I agree with this entirely, well said.
I think it may be worth noting that in Massachusetts, this was not a party line vote.
It’s a parallel of what happened here in Canada. Parliament passed it, conservatives groups screamed, it was voted on a second time but people really can’t find any objective harm so it wasn’t repealed. Conservative groups vowed to press on but they lost their traction.
What can you say except Hallelujah and Amen!!!!!! 🙂
When I look at the political convolutions this issue took in California, it’s become a football.
Between legislation, courts AND popular vote.
And in the meantime, no third party, nor the tradition of marriage has come to grief.
Which is what has been argued in court by the anti marriage supporters.
The Constitution and Bill of Rights has been shredded and gay couples completely excluded from what is a very basic and simple legal right.
To care for a single, consenting significant other, and your children.
No OTHER group, not even CRIMINALS are KEPT from this process.
So eventully the zeal to exclude gay people alone turns into something other than what it really is.
INCLUSION.
This doesn’t change the intent of marriage, nor the status of the laws it involves.
It simply includes GAY PEOPLE.
Th tortured logic and hypocrisy stated in defense of the bans seriously boggles the mind.