Good news from Massachusetts...bigots lose!!!

[SaveElmer]

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/city_region/breaking_news/2007/06/legislators_vot_1.html

Thursday, June 14, 2007
Legislators vote to defeat same-sex marriage ban

By Frank Phillips, Globe Staff

A proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was defeated today by a joint session of the Legislature by a vote of 151 to 45, eliminating any chance of getting it on the ballot in November 2008. The measure needed at least 50 votes to advance.

The vote came after House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi, Senate President Therese Murray, and Governor Deval Patrick conferred this morning and concluded that they have the votes to kill the proposal. Cheers echoed in the State House when the vote was tallied.

"In Massachusetts today, the freedom to marry is secure," Patrick told reporters after the results were official.

The three leaders - along with gay rights activists - spent the last several days intensely lobbying a dozen or more state representatives and state senators who had previously supported the amendment but signaled that they were open to changing their positions.

[Totally Committed]

1. Awesome!

That's such good news. Thanks for posting!

TC

[JenniferJuniper]

5. I'm just hoping the nightly robo calls...

from the Concerned Families of Massachusetts or whatever they call themselves will stop now.

Part of me wishes it had gone to the ballot, though. I really don't think the majority of Mass. voters would vote to demand that married people be forced to get divorced, and it would have been cool to show that to Red america. But I don't think people in the majority should have the right to vote on the civil rights of those in the minority. Think what the South would be like today if that were the case.

In reality, it just isn't that big a deal to most people. And it seems the number of gay marriages is way, way down from the initial flurry. Regardless, it's a big step in the right direction and it's just a matter of time before them dominoes start fallin'.

[flpoljunkie]

2. Kudos to those in the Massachusetts lege with the courage to stand up for basic human rights!

[TlalocW]

3. I picture Brian Carmeneker (sp?)

Is probably pounding some tables in anger now. He always seemed like he had a pretty bad temper in interviews.

TlalocW

[welshTerrier2]

4. Does Senator Clinton support same sex marriage?

is that the standard by which you're determining who is a bigot and who isn't?

[rinsd]

6. Way to take a dump on the thread.

This is great news. Too bad your bile for Clinton ruined it for you.

[welshTerrier2]

8. you mean Clinton opposes this?

yes, it's great news that Massachusetts rejected the bigotry of those pushing to put this on the ballot. citizens should not have a right to determine who should not be treated equally under the law.

that doesn't change the facts though about Clinton. to fail to honor the fundamental rights of every American is blatantly discriminatory.

you can whine about the facts all you want to but there they are for all to see ...

[rinsd]

9. Don't hijack the thread.

Clinton feels that there should certainly be full rights but sees civil unions as the path to that in terms of marriage.

She has enjoyed a tremendous amount of support from the GLBT community

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17469609/

http://www.hrc.org/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=35851&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

"you can whine about the facts all you want to but there they are for all to see ..."

Whine? From a person so pathetically bitter they had to thread jack to issue a smear, that's hilarious!

[rinsd]

7. Great news for Mass! 151 to 45 is a thumping!