Massachusetts Lawmakers Defeat Proposed Marriage Amendment

A collective applause [and a huge sigh of relief] broke out among activists and same-sex couples across the Commonwealth -- and the country -- yesterday after Massachusetts lawmakers soundly defeated a proposed amendment which would have banned marriage for same-sex couples by a 151-45 vote. The move came more than three years after the landmark Goodridge decision took effect and after more than a dozen similar Constitutional Conventions produced little more than political posturing and delay.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and other anti-gay politicians, activists and organizations who spearheaded this proposed amendment suffered a stinging defeat yesterday. Gay activists succeeded to lobby lawmakers to vote against the proposal. Democratic operatives walked away happy with a long-sought solution to this potential political powder keg they felt could hinder their chances to reclaim the White House next November. Same-sex couples in the Commonwealth could finally rejoice with the reassurance their marriages remain safe. The long-running political, social and activist drama of the past three years hopefully came to an end with yesterday's vote. The anti-gay forces will certainly continue to make noise about how they feel the vote denied Massachusetts voters their say. The sky did not fall upon the Commonwealth on May 17, 2004, and yesterday's vote only confirms that reality.