Sunday, June 17, 2007

My Home State: Doing the Right Thing

Warning! For those who visit my site for cigar reviews and things of such relaxing nature, it might be wise to skip this post. I do intend to post other things of interest to me on this site. This represents one my views on a very controversial subject, and I can understand that you may not share these views. It is not my intent to alienate those who come to my site for leisure purposes, so I humbly suggest that if you disagree with this post, just to pass it by.
Massachusetts Gay Referendum Defeated
15th June 2007 10:33
PinkNews.co.uk writer


The Massachusetts legislature yesterday voted down a discriminatory constitutional amendment that would have halted marriage equality in the state.

The vote, which came amid heavy pressure to kill the measure from Gov. Deval Patrick and legislative leaders, was a devastating blow to efforts to reverse a historic 2003 court ruling legalising same-sex marriage.

"Democrats in Massachusetts overwhelmingly recognise that every family is strengthened when the legal responsibilities of civil marriage are extended to all couples," wrote Jo Wyrick, executive director National Stonewall Democrats.

"These legal obligations serve society by protecting children, stabilising homes and securing relationships. We are proud that Democrats in Massachusetts fully support values which protect families in the Bay State."

The ban needed 50 votes in consecutive sessions of the 200-seat Legislature to secure a place on the 2008 statewide ballot.

At the end of the last session in January it passed with 62 votes, but this time it garnered just 45.

"The fact that opponents of marriage equality couldn't muster the support of even 50 out of 200 legislators is a clear sign that the people of Massachusetts have embraced marriage equality.

"They are leading America toward full equality,” said People For the American Way President Ralph G. Neas in a media statement.

With political support for gay marriage growing stronger, such a scenario appeared increasingly unlikely, but opponents of gay marriage vowed to press on.

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute that backed the amendment, questioned the legality of what he said was rampant horse trading in the final hours, saying to the Associated Press that there was "tremendous pressure and we believe some tremendous incentives" to flip votes.

Same-sex couples have married in Massachusetts since it became legal in May 2004.




Makes me proud to be from Massachusetts.

TomC

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