Supporters Of Gay Marriage Amendment Lose Votes

[Breeze54]

Supporters Of Amendment Lose Votes

Gay Marriage Vote Looms

POSTED: 11:00 am EDT June 14, 2007

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/13502530/detail.html

BOSTON --

Supporters and opponents of a gay marriage ban returned by the hundreds to the Massachusetts Statehouse on Thursday, bracing for perhaps their final showdown in the only state that allows gays and lesbians to marry.

The outcome of a constitutional convention deciding the fate of a proposed amendment banning gay marriage was too close to call, but by all accounts, the state's new Democratic governor, Deval Patrick, and his fellow Democratic leaders of the House and Senate were within a handful of votes of killing the measure.

Supporters of the question were fighting to hold only the slim margin they need to get the question to the 2008 ballot. The question needs approval of 50 of 200 senators and representatives. In January, just before the end of the last legislative session, they garnered 62, but turnover in the newly composed Legislature - and the vow of Gov. Deval Patrick to kill the measure - fueled doubts about the outcome Thursday.

Rep. James Vallee of Franklin told The Milford Daily News he'll change his vote to oppose the question.

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Outside the Statehouse, hundreds rallied on both sides of the issue.

"We believe it's unconstitutional not to allow people to vote on this," said Rebekah Beliveau, 24,
of Lawrence, a student at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary who stood with fellow college-age
amendment supporters across the street from the Statehouse.

"We're standing up not necessarily on the issue of same-sex marriage, but our right to vote,"
Beliveau said. Advocates of the amendment said they gathered 170,000 signatures on petitions
supporting the amendment, although the secretary of state's office accepted only 123,000.

Across the road, gay marriage advocates stood on the front steps of the capital waving signs that read,

"Wrong to Vote on Rights" and "All Families Are Equal."

more......

Crucial Gay Marriage Vote Looms
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/video/index.html

They've been calling me all month to call my rep. I did already ! lol We both did!!

[Breeze54]

1. No Gay Marriage Vote for Massachusetts! They win!!!

No Gay Marriage Vote for Massachusetts

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6709619,00.html

Thursday June 14, 2007 7:46 PM

AP Photo MASS102, MASS103, MASS101

By STEVE LeBLANC

Associated Press Writer

BOSTON (AP) -

Massachusetts lawmakers blocked a proposed constitutional amendment Thursday that would
have let voters decide whether to ban gay marriage in the only state that allows it.

``In Massachusetts today, the freedom to marry is secure,'' said a victorious Gov. Deval Patrick,
who had lobbied lawmakers up until the final hours Thursday to kill the measure.

The narrow vote was a blow to efforts to reverse the historic court ruling that legalized same-sex
marriage in the state. More than 8,500 gay couples have married there since it became legal in May 2004.

As the tally was announced, the halls of the Statehouse erupted in applause. The ban needed 50
votes to secure a place on the 2008 statewide ballot. It got 45, with 151 lawmakers opposed.

``We're proud of our state today, and we applaud the Legislature for showing that Massachusetts
is strongly behind fairness,'' said Lee Swislow, executive director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders.

more....


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CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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