Proposed
Massachusetts marriage ban dead until November

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.