News
2006-07-14
Proposed
Massachusetts marriage ban dead until November
Massachusetts
averts marriage ban vote
Lawmakers end
debate on constitutional amendments bef
Massachusetts
lawmakers ended debate on proposed constitutional
amendments Wednesday before dealing with the most volatile
issue on their agenda: a proposal to outlaw same-sex
marriage in the only state where it is legal, the
Associated Press reports. The move to recess until November
9 put off the decision on the politically charged issue
until after the general election.
Senate president
Robert Travaglini had said he intended to bring all 20
proposed amendments to a vote but warned that lawmakers
might not be able to get to every proposed amendment
on Wednesday. The house gallery erupted in applause
from gay-rights activists after the vote to recess was
announced. Opponents condemned lawmakers for postponing
debate.
"It's a real
cop-out," Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts
Family Institute, told the AP.
Same-sex marriage
foes had been optimistic they had the votes to move
closer to putting the amendment on the 2008 ballot. If
approved, the amendment would block future same-sex
marriages in Massachusetts. More than 8,000 same-sex
couples have taken vows since gay marriages began in
May 2004.
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