Governor Patrick - MA to March in Boston Gay Pride Parade

[Breeze54]

Governor Patrick to March in Boston Gay Pride Parade

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=20986

by Kilian Melloy
EDGE Boston Contributor

Friday Jun 8, 2007


Governor Deval Patrick will make history Saturday as
the first sitting governor to march in Boston’s Pride Parade

Governor Deval Patrick is set to make history as the first sitting governor to participate in Boston’s Pride parade this weekend. Patrick’s gesture of support to the Massachusetts GLBT community comes only days before the next scheduled constitutional convention, during which state lawmakers are expected to vote on a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts constitution that would, if approved by voters in 2008, repeal marriage equality in the Commonwealth.

The Boston Globe reported today on the story, also providing details of the governor’s appearance at a MassEquality event last night. At last night’s event, which was also attended by lawyers opposed to the proposed amendment, Patrick made the case that not only would moving forward with the ballot initiative to amend the constitution contradict basic fairness, it would also distract the state legislature from other pressing business during the months leading up to the 2008 election.

"Even if you don’t agree with us about the rightness of the question," said Patrick, "if we don’t put this question to rest at the con-con, this is all we will do for the next two years."

Added Patrick, "And there is an awful lot of other business, important to you and everyone else here in the Commonwealth, about strengthening this economy and our public schools and our healthcare system that demands the attention of the folks on Beacon Hill."

Governor Patrick’s support of marriage equality is the polar opposite of former Governor Mitt Romney, who is viewed by some as having opposed marriage equality as a means to bolster his credibility among conservatives. Romney had expressed a wish to be a supporter of the GLBT community during a senatorial campaign debate with Ted Kennedy in 1994, as a video of that debate posted on YouTube documents, but as he tested the climate for a run at the Presidency from the governor’s office, Romney gave voice to a very different position. In a television ad last month, the Republican would-be nominee said that he during his time as governor of Massachusetts, he "stood up for traditional marriage."

It was Romney’s case against legislators who had postponed the vote from last November that many view as forcing a vote on the issue this past January, which resulted in the first of two required approvals of the measure by state lawmakers. The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in that case that state lawmakers have a duty to vote on proposed ballot initiatives. Though the January vote did proceed on the issue of marriage equality, another initiative--for universal health care--was allowed to perish without a vote.

Patrick made his support for marriage equality an element of his candidacy and now, as governor, has been working to garner enough votes to defeat the proposed rollback of marriage rights for Massachusetts gays and lesbians. Only 50 out of the legislature’s 200 members need to vote for the amendment in next week’s constitutional convention to send the proposal to the ballot.

Parade organizers voiced their appreciation of Patrick’s support. "For us, it symbolizes the progressiveness we’ve got in Massachusetts," said Linda DeMarco, president of the board of directors of the Boston Pride Committee.

More at link......

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Good! I'm glad he's doing this!! He should!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Breeze54]

1. kick for the evening crowd!

;)

:kick:

[Breeze54]

2. Oops!! My fingers slipped!

:P

:kick:

[midnight armadillo]

3. I like him more and more!

Go Patrick go. There are days when MA is clearly the bestest state in the union :party:

[Breeze54]

4. I have to agree!

We finally kicked almost all the repubs to the curb!! :P

[Telly Savalas]

5. I envy your governor.

If you open your dictionary to the word "shithead" you'd probably find a picture of Missouri governor Matt Blunt.

[Breeze54]

6. lmao!

And a lot of other rethugs!! :P

[Marrah_G]

7. I love my governor

He's got a tough road ahead, fixing things here, but I think he can do it. His support for the GBLT community here brings tears to my eyes.Unlike Romney he does more then just talk the talk.

I don't know if the rest of the nation will ever accept gays and lesbians as true and equal in every way, but I have great hope that very soon all of the North East will be be a haven for everyone, no matter who they choose to love.

[Breeze54]

8. I think NE is changing for the better too!

Maybe NE will take the lead and be an example for the rest of the country?
Seems they already are...

:hug:

[Marrah_G]

9. Wouldn't be the first time we fought an oppressive King George and his followers :)

People tend to think of the North East as those "liberal elite's" but really what you really find here are some really, really tough folks who work hard, don't take alot of crap and still truly believe in America and the American dream. Not King George's American dream, but the dream that our forefathers set into motion. Freedom and the promise that if you work hard enough you can live a good life no matter where you came from. On top of it all that a sense of minding ones own business (there are of course, exceptions).

I grew up outside Boston and I still live here, always will. My family are Catholic as are a huge majority of folks here and even though they might not understand or agree with other peoples choices, most of the time they shrug and say "to each his own". They believe in evolution and creation, they don't like abortion but don't feel it's their decision unless it's their family. They love their church but privately they do not agree with some of the rules. The vatican doesn't much like how Catholics behave here.

Maybe I am a bit romantic when it comes to my home, but I really do hope we can be a starting point for positive change as we have been in the past.

[Breeze54]

10. Are you my sister??

:P

I was born in Boston and grew up outside Beantown and I still live here too! ;)

:hi: neighbor! I agre with what you wrote too.

"...they shrug and say "to each his own."

Yes they do!! Isn't it grand?

Outsiders think we're not friendly but that just isn't true at all.

We just let live....

[Marrah_G]

11. I might be !!!

Actually I've had friends from the south get un-nerved because people here were "too nice". I've never found people here to be mean really (except when driving).

I love it here and frankly if the rest of the country doesn't follow suit I would love to see every GBLT person move here :) I'm straight myself, but as a Wiccan I can relate to the stereo-types and fear. I am free to be open here in a way my pagan friends elsewhere cannot be.