A proposed bill in the Massachusetts legislature...what do you think?

[terrya]

A Republican legislator has introduced a bill that would get the commonwealth of Massachusetts out of marriage entirely. In other words, the commonwealth of Massachusetts would NOT issue marriage licenses to gay or straight couples. Both gay and straight couples would be entered into civil unions...with the same benefits for both. Only churches could perform marriages. This bill is in response to the constitutional ban on gay marriage that will be before the voters.

I think this bill should seriously be considered.



/www.advocate.com/new_news.asp?ID=11914&sd=04/03/04-04/05/04

[freetobegay]

1. I agree, this would be great!

Leave marriage up to the church. We have our own Church's that could perform the ceremonies. This way we would all be equal in the eyes of the Law, which is the way it's suppose to be!

on edit: spelling

[terrya]

3. The MCC. The Unitarians.

There are churches that will perform gay marriages.

I think this bill is a good idea. Gay and lesbian couples deserve ALL of the same rights as straight couples. If this bill provides for that, fine. It's all about fairness and equality.

[freetobegay]

5. I have been a MCC member since 1992

I love the Reverend Troy Perry & what he as accomplished world wide since the 1960's.


Heres the link if anyone is interested. www.mccchurch.org/

on edit: add link.

[kiahzero]

2. Good idea, even though it comes out of a Republican

Then again, he's a New England Republican, so there's at least a high probability that he's not insane.

[Frances]

4. That sounds very sensible to me

Separation of church and state is a good idea

[BattyDem]

6. I think it's great!

It solves the problem completely. We will all be equal under the law and the fundies can't bitch about "marriage" being destroyed. Let the churches deal marriage rites and let the states deal with civil rights.

[ezee]

7. As it should be

There was an attitude of the founding fathers of our constitution that the church and the state should be separate. This will help preserve that attitude as well as insure that civil liberty is pertains to ALL people.

[AndyTiedye]

11. Good Idea. Let the State Handle the Civil part of the Union

and make a clean separation between the domain of religion and that of the state.

[arewethereyet]

8. and then they repeal it once the constitution is changed

problem solved for the right.

So is it still ok ?

[LeahMira]

9. It won't get that far.

So is it still ok ?

I don't think a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage has much chance of getting passed. I think the whole idea is an election year issue and that the idea of justices and mayors who are performing marriages would never have drawn such nationwide focus if it were not an election year. It would have been resolved in the various states, one way or another.

The Massachusetts law proposal sounds good... really good. Maybe if it works well in Massachusetts we will see more states passing similar laws.

For sure, if they ever do pass an amendment to ban gay marriages it will follow the same path as prohibition. I just don't see it happening.

[arewethereyet]

10. not the national ammendment, the state one

and I think that one is a lock