Massachusetts Will Not Allow a Vote on Gay Marriage Ban

In what an Associated Press article, posted on Yahoo News, called a "stunning victory for gay marriage advocates," the Massachusetts legislature blocked an amendment to the state's constitution from being voted on by the citizens of the state. The amendment was an attempt by anti-gay forces to reverse the 2003 law that made Massachusetts the only state to allow marriages between gay persons.

The proposal to bring the amendment to a vote by Massachusetts residents needed to receive at least 50 votes out of 200 in two consecutive sessions of the legislature. It received 62 votes last year, but received only 45 votes this year.

After the vote was announced, there were cheers and applause from supporters of gay marriage. AP quoted Lee Swislow, the executive director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders, "We're proud of our state today, and we applaud the Legislature for showing Massachusetts is strongly behind fairness. The vote today was the triumph of time, experience, and understanding over fear and prejudice."

Opponents of gay marriage, while they intend to continue the battle for an amendment, may find it out of reach. They had already spent more than three years just getting to the vote this year. It will take years more of work to try to bring the question to the ballot. In the meantime, support for gay marriage in the state has increased.

From seven same-sex couples filing a suit in Boston in 2001 to challenge the state's ban on gay marriage to the decisive vote on June 14, 2007, it has been a long journey for gay marriage advocates. Now the battle may be permanently over. AP reports that more than 8,500 same sex marriages have been performed in Massachusetts since gay unions were legalized in May 2004.

The state's Democratic leaders also can claim victory. Massachusetts Democratic Governor Deval Patrick was a strong supporter of gay marriage and active in urging the Legislature to block the vote on the amendment. According to AP, there were signs that the mood of the Legislature was changing, as several people who had voted for the amendment last year were reconsidering their vote.