Massachusetts Weighs a Deal on Marriages Between Gays | NY Times

[Ediacara]

Massachusetts Weighs a Deal on Marriages Between Gays
By PAM BELLUCK

Published: February 11, 2004

BOSTON, Feb. 10 — Seeking to counteract last week's court decision allowing gay couples to marry in Massachusetts, state lawmakers on Tuesday fashioned what they called a compromise: a proposed amendment to the state's Constitution that would define marriage as a heterosexual institution but allow same-sex couples to join in civil unions.

The compromise was developed as legislators prepared for what is likely to be a divisive constitutional convention that begins on Wednesday and is expected to be dominated by the gay-marriage question.

Lawmakers had been scheduled to consider a different amendment, one that defined marriage solely as a relationship between a man and a woman and made no mention of same-sex couples. But some legislators worried that such a measure would be interpreted to preclude civil unions.

"There were many members of the Senate who felt that amendment was punitive as opposed to being inclusive," said Ann Dufresne, a spokeswoman for Robert E. Travaglini, the Senate president.

Mr. Travaglini, a Democrat who is the presiding officer of the convention, supports civil unions. "We think the new amendment is a great bipartisan alternative that really seeks consensus," Ms. Dufresne said.

More at the New York Times

[tobius]

1. The Dems are amending the constitution?

to exclude marriage for gays?

“A cynic is a man who, when he smells flowers, looks around for a coffin” — H. L. Mencken

[dusty64]

3. Looks that way.

Gee, with friends like these ..........!

[La_Serpiente]

2. Geez

there is no telling what will come out of that Constitutional Convention. Everyone has an agenda it seems.

[foreigncorrespondent]

4. Guess queers...

...can't trust anyone in politics anymore. Seems both major parties are against us having any form of true equality!

As always, give us the bullshit "separate but equal" crap, and tell us to go sit in the back of the bus and shut up.

Bloody bunch of wanker bastards!