East Boston rep. comes out against marriage amendment

[Ian David]

East Boston rep. comes out against marriage amendment
Had voted for it last time around, but won't do it again
By Laura Kiritsy
Published: Thursday, August 18, 2005

In last years legislative debate on a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, state Rep. Anthony Petruccelli, D-East Boston, supported an amendment to ban same-sex marriage and create civil unions. But he'll be voting differently when the constitutional convention reconvenes this fall for a second and final vote on the amendment.

In an interview with Bay Windows, Petruccelli, who chairs the Committee on Election Laws, said that he will be voting against the amendment, which passed last year by a vote of 105-94 after four emotional days of debate. While he says he has always believed that same-sex couples should be treated equally to heterosexual couples, Petruccelli said his vote for the so-called compromise amendment resulted in part from his belief that the convention was destined to pass some version of an amendment and that supporting the least drastic of those was the right thing to do. What led him to change his mind, ultimately, was the reality that as of May 17, 2004, same-sex couples in Massachusetts entered into legal marriages and it would be wrong to now roll back their rights.

"I think that has changed things dramatically," said Petruccelli. "And it makes it easy for me to look at this issue and say, who am I to take away something from someone that they cherish, that they already have? I think that is probably the strongest aspect of why I feel strongly about voting no in the convention." Petrucelli noted that he and his wife will celebrate their three-year anniversary in September and while their lives have not changed since May 17, 2004, it has impacted the lives of same-sex couples positively. "Its made stronger unions among people who have not had the opportunity up until that time to get married," he observes. Civil unions, he has concluded, would obviously be "a major step backwards in equality." The lawmaker also said he is opposed to the initiative petition drive recently launched by same-sex marriage opponents to put a marriage ban on the 2008 ballot.

MassEquality Political Director Marc Solomon called Petrucellis decision "another great day for equality."

"This has been a journey for many people, including legislators," said Solomon. "Anthony Petruccelli has seen that marriage equality has been incredibly important for many gay and lesbian couples and hurts no one elses marriage." Petruccellis recognition that civil unions would be a backward move is "gratifying," Solomon added. "We hope he carries that message broadly among his colleagues before the next constitutional convention.

More:
http://www.baywindows.com/media/paper328/news/2005/08/18/News/East-Boston.Rep.Comes.Out.Against.Marriage.Amendment-967462.shtml

[HockeyMom]

1. The World and Straight Marriage

didn't come crashing down in Massachusetts in the year since gays were allowed to marry.

[Ian David]

2. Nope. And gawd punished us by giving us The World Series.