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Massachusetts: Anti-Gay Constitutional Amendment Derailed

Compiled by GayToday
Human Rights Campaign

Boston, Massachusetts-- A bipartisan effort by Massachusetts legislators to derail an anti-gay constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages has been successfully derailed.

"Today's bipartisan effort was a blow to anti-gay extremism and sent a strong message that intolerance and discrimination have no place in Massachusetts," said Seth Kilbourn, National Field Director for the Human Rights Campaign. (HRC).

"While we are extremely pleased with the outcome, we must remain vigilant because we know that those who sponsored this amendment will continue to search for ways to promote prejudice and divide the state."

"We are absolutely thrilled with this first in the nation defeat of an anti-gay, anti-marriage constitutional amendment," said Holly Gunner of MassEquality.org, the coalition of groups that came together to fight this measure.

"We are very proud that many organizations, both gay and straight, worked as a coalition to achieve this victory. Massachusetts legislators took a strong stand in favor of equal rights for everyone. We are proud of Massachusetts."

Early yesterday, a Constitutional Convention was held where a joint session of the House and Senate voted 137-53 to adjourn immediately without taking a vote on the controversial issue.

Massachusetts State Senate President Thomas F. Birmingham

Opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment was led by Senate President Thomas F. Birmingham (D) and Senate Minority leader Brian Lees (R).

The Constitutional Convention was called after right wing groups collected the 130,000 signatures needed to initiate the process of passing a constitutional amendment.

To appear on the ballot in November 2004, the voter-initiated question had to be approved by 50 of the 200 elected representatives and senators before this two-year legislative session ends July 31 and again during the 2003-2004 session.

If passed, the amendment would make same-sex marriages unconstitutional in Massachusetts and accord marriage benefits only to unions between one man and one woman.

"This extremist measure would not only prohibit same-sex marriages, but it could have also gutted domestic partner benefits, leaving gay families without basic protections and exposing these families to harm," added Kilbourn.

Yesterday's adjournment means that the only way the question could advance is if Gov. Jane Swift (R) calls the legislature back into the Constitutional Convention. However, Swift's spokesman says that she opposes the measure.

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