Marriage battle could broaden, Gay rights activists ask aid from DNC

[Ian David]

Source: The Boston Globe

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff | May 3, 2007

Gay rights advocates and state Democratic leaders are lobbying the national party to help them pressure a handful of state legislators to change their position and vote to kill a proposed state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

Two staff members from MassEquality, the group leading the fight to protect same-sex marriage in the only state where it is legal, met last week in Washington with officials of the Democratic National Committee to make their case that a high-profile, expensive battle in Massachusetts next year would drain valuable resources away from the presidential race and its other national political efforts.

They came armed with a list of about two dozen Democratic state lawmakers whom MassEquality, working with legislative leaders and Governor Deval Patrick, have targeted as potential converts to their effort to kill the amendment.

"If this question makes it to the ballot, it would draw tremendous resources into a political fight in Massachusetts that otherwise would be spent on national campaigns," said Marc Solomon, campaign director for MassEquality, who met with the DNC staff. "Democratic donors would redirect their money here for a campaign that would be a higher priority for them."

Read more: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2007/05/03/marriage_battle_could_broaden/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News