September 14, 2005
Marriage Equality Safe...For Now
by Jeff Langstraat
The Massachusetts General Court, sitting in Constitutional Convention, just rejected an amendment the passed last year. Last year's vote was 105-92 in favor. This year, it was rejected by a vote of 157-39.
I'm about to run off and teach a class (this afternoon has been frustrating--no streaming video of the debate for my office computer, and no television close-by where I could watch on WGBH), so I won't write much now (more tonight after class and a date I have at Redbones). For more info, here's a story just published by the Boston Globe. In particular, I want to stress the for now part of the post's title:
But the remaining proposed amendment -- driven by a citizen petition that requires support from fewer lawmakers to make its way onto a statewide ballot in 2008 -- also was a factor. Some reluctant supporters of the first proposed amendment -- including Gov. Mitt Romney -- have abandoned it in favor of the stricter measure.Supporters of the new plan must gather about 65,000 signatures, then submit it to the Legislature for two votes in the constitutional convention before it would go to voters in 2008.
Because citizens must go out and collect signatures first, the legislative bar is far lower: The proposed amendment needs the support of only 50 lawmakers -- 25 percent of the House and Senate -- in two constitutional conventions for it to be put to a vote.
We've got three more years of work ahead of us. Today, though, with this lovely day-before-my-birthday present, is a day for celebration!
Posted by in Civil Rights, Culture War, Family, Gay, Lesbian, Transgender, Marriage, Politics, Queer
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