Massachusetts legislators today soundly rejected one constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and recessed the Constitutional Convention until January, thereby effectively derailing a proposed ballot measure which would have ended marriage equality in Massachusetts.

By taking this action, the Legislature sided with the majority of people in Massachusetts who believe that marriage equality is good for families and communities and that it's time to move on to more pressing matters.

In addressing two proposed constitutional amendments that would have stripped away marriage rights for same-sex couples, legislators overwhelmingly defeated the first by a 196 to 0 vote. They then moved to end the debate altogether, thereby effectively terminating our opponents' drive to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the 2008 November ballot. That vote was 109 to 87.

That is amazing news from Massachusetts. I am seeing a trend here. Arizona defeated their proposed constitutional amendment on Tuesday, New Jersey ruled in favor of marriage equality and now the Massachusetts legislature has help up marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Labels: constitutional amendment, Massachusetts

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 09, 2006 at 4:45 PM. Want to discuss? Leave a comment below.