05/10/2007

Massachusetts Gov Warns of "Circus" Over Anti-gay Amendment

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick warns of the coming political storm should the wingnuts' proposed amendment to ban gay marriage, which has been legal there since 2004, makes it to the ballot.

Said Patrick: "If this does get to a popular ballot, there is very little other business that will get done in Massachusetts politics and policy making while that is pending. Rather than turn Massachusetts into a political circus for a national debate over something which is largely settled here, my own view is that we ought to resolve this on the merits so that it stays off the ballot, and to do so at the constitutional convention."

Currently 57 lawmakers are seen as supporting the amendment, which requires 50 votes this legislative session to make it to the statewide ballot. In January, the previous legislature approved the amendment on the final day of the legislative session. Massachusetts law requires a proposed amendment to the state constitution to be backed by one quarter (50) of the state's lawmakers in two legislative sessions before it can proceed to the ballot.

Posted 4:30 PM EST by Andy in Deval Patrick, Gay Marriage, Massachusetts, News | Permalink

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Comments

1. Hey Andy...is there any list of lawmakers who support the amendment banning gay marriage? I think they should all get letters.

   Posted by: peterparker | May 10, 2007 4:37:45 PM

   
   

2. Peter-

   Check out www.massequality.org

   Lots of resources there.

   JB

   Posted by: JB | May 10, 2007 4:56:20 PM

   
   

3. MassEquality has that list.

   Also, I had a chat with the Editor of Bay Windows (new england's largest glbt newspaper) on my podcast about when the vote will take place and the gay rights movement in Massachusetts in general. It's pretty interesting stuff.

   http://www.leftahead.com/?p=42

   Posted by: Ryan | May 10, 2007 5:04:58 PM

   
   

4. PS: Deval Patrick rocks. I don't know if you guys know anything about him, but he's geniunely an awesome person. I say that as someone who covered the race in great detail and has subsequently got a number of chances to have conversations.

   He had an event recently that he invited a few bloggers to. He was supposed to chat with the media for a bit, then local bloggers for a bit too. He cancelled his media event and kept the event with the bloggers. LOL.

   Posted by: Ryan | May 10, 2007 5:11:49 PM

   
   

5. Perhaps.

   He could also have said that civil rights legislation has no place on a popular ballot. I deserve civil equality because I'm an American, not because the majority of my neighbors like the fact that I'm gay.

   Posted by: Brian | May 10, 2007 5:28:58 PM

   
   

6. Props to Patrick, but more specifically, he should have said, "If my civil rights had been determined by a ballot initiative, not only would I not be governor, I could not even vote; not only could I not have served as a US Assistant Attorney General, I could not even be an attorney; not only could I not be an attorney, I could not have entered Harvard Law School; not only could I not have entered Harvard Law School, I could not have gone to school of any kind, Not only these things but I would probably be a slave on someone's plantation. When will all Americans recognize that all Americans are created equal and must be given equal opportunity?"

   Posted by: Leland | May 10, 2007 5:59:37 PM

   
   

7. He says pretty much both of things at all his speaking gigs. I'm pretty sure he learned the basic issue of respect for all humanity early during college, at the latest. Not only was he coming from a certain background that would help him relate, but he also had a gay roomate in college that has since heavily supported Patrick.

   Patrick also supports getting rid of the 1913 law that bans out of state same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, something that MassEquality is actually holding up for fear that the elected can say "see, I support equality" and then vote against marriage. I think it's an idiotic plan - one that's held out of state couples wanting to get married here hostage for years - but MassEquality has control over too many legislators on this issue to repeal 1913 until after this ballot question is resolves (and that's a pitty).

   Posted by: Ryan | May 10, 2007 6:22:56 PM

   
   

8. Man, it REALLY sucks that this keeps going back and forth, and that it affects so many people. Can't they just give up the ghost and leave people alone to do with what they will in their relationships and not turn these things into ridiculous soapboxes for fanatics to swarm around?

   Posted by: adam | May 10, 2007 8:02:05 PM

   
   

9. hi leland. :-)

   Posted by: poodle | May 10, 2007 9:53:58 PM

   
   

10. I think the MA legislature should just vote up or down on this. Get it over with either way. If gay marriage stands, same-sex couples can finally get some assurance that their marriages are stable and permanent. If the constitutional amendment is approved, then the legislature needs to start working on offering an alternative solution...such as civil unions.

    These delays only create more angst, stress, and confusion.

    Posted by: John | May 11, 2007 3:11:43 AM

    
    

11. John, I think the proposed amendment forbids civil unions.

    Posted by: Zeke | May 11, 2007 12:57:42 PM

    
    

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