August 24, 2005
Keeping Marriage Equality
by Jeff Langstraat
I'm a little fussy today. The legislature finally set a date to meet in Constitutional Convention to vote on an amendment to create civil unions while destroying marriage equality: September 14. (I'm not fussy because they're voting--well, not completely--but because I won't be able to go to the Statehouse that day.)
With the celebration of the one-year anniversary of equal marriage for same-sex couples this past May, people tended to overlook the fact that the General Court passed a constitutional amendment to do away with that equality and could send it to the ballot should they approve it again.
Last year's ConCon lasted four days which were spread out over two months. The legislature narrowly defeated several amendments before finally adopting the current measure by a vote of 105-101.
Here's the good news:
- Marriage equality supporters picked up two votes in last fall's general election.
- Marriage equality supporters have won two consecutive special elections. In both cases, they filled seats vacated by our opponents.
- At least two legislators who supported the amendment last year have publicly stated they will vote against it this year. Even one of the co-sponsors of the amendment, Senate Minority Leader Brian Lees, has said he's considering voting against the amendment.
If the rest of the legislature votes the way it did last year, supporters only have 99 votes; they need 101 to pass the amendment.
This is where things get sticky, though. The Commonwealth's leading homohaters--including Archbishop O'Malley, former Boston Mayor and Ambassador to the Vatican Ray Flynn, and Governor Willard Romney (R-UT)--have all said they oppose the pending amendment. Many conservatives in the legislature are also considering voting against it. So, it might seem the amendment is dead. That's good, right? Well, yes.
But, the civil unions that are included in the pending amendment pissed the haters off so they're trying to put a different measure on the ballot. They're organizing a citizens' petition campaign to put a different amendment on the ballot, one that would bars same-sex couples from marrying. The difference between an amendment sponsored by the legislature and one brought sponsored by citizen petition is this: the petition-amendment only needs the approval of over 25% of the legislature, as opposed to requiring over 50% for those created by the General Court. Each must be approved by two consecutive legislatures. So, the earliest the homohaters could expect a vote would be 2008. (The time obviously works in our favor, but never underestimate the ability of the anti-gay industry to whip up anti-gay sentiment--with violence generally accompanying it.)
Several years ago a marriage ban was brought to the legislature. The only thing that killed it was Senate President Thomas Birmingham gavelling the ConCon into adjournment before it was taken up. Who knows if Travaglini will do the same.
Here's what folks can do to make sure Massachusetts maintains marriage equality:
- Donate to MassEquality. They can use the cash. Plus, if you donate now, your money will be worth more. Ambassador James Hormel is donating fifty cents for every dollar donated.
- If you live in Massachusetts, contact your legislators. They need to hear from us. I'm sure most of them would prefer not to have to deal with this issue again. We need to remind them that marriage equality is good for Massachusetts: It makes families more secure.
- If you know anyone in Massachuesetts, make sure they contact their legislators. Send them the above link; make it easy for them.
We're going to have to fight to keep marriage equality in the Bay State. The anti-gay industry is gunning for us. A majority of Massachusetts residents currently support the right of same-sex couples to marry. There's no guarantee it'll stay that way though, and we've got to stay ahead of the haters.
Being at Cambridge City Hall as the calendar flipped from May 16 to 17 last year was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I'm determined not to see the victory and joy of that moment erased.
Posted by in Civil Rights, Culture War, Elections, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Marriage, Politics, Queer, Rights
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