The Legislature voted, and struck down the possibility that same-sex marriage will be on the ballot in 2008. Even better, a couple of weeks after the vote, Kris Mineau and his group announced that they would not be attempting another petition drive to get the question before the voters in 2010 or 2012. It seems as if the question is largely settled, at least in Massachusetts. As before, there are no pits of burning sulphur opening up anywhere in the Commonwealth. There have been no wrath-of-God occurrences, and no heterosexual marriages have spontaneously combusted because we can marry. Massachusetts still has one of the lowest divorce rates in the country. Now, perhaps, the legislature can get on with more important business, like providing proper funding for the infrastructure repairs that have been deferred for too long.
Original Post:
Once again, the Massachusetts legislature takes up the question of whether or not to allow the voters of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to vote on a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as the legal union between one man and one woman only. You might know that Massachusetts currently allows same-sex marriage.
To my knowledge, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate of any state in the country. And, there does not seem to be any wrath-of-God stuff going on up here...no pits of burning sulphur opening up suddenly and swallowing random gay-rights supporters, for instance.
We're a traditional bunch here, even those of us who are gay. We like to settle down, and simply be left alone. My husband and I are quiet, law-abiding citizens who get up every day, do our jobs, pay our taxes (grumble about them) worry about money, spend time with our friends, and occasionally enjoy the odd snog. (We are really married...)
I really hope that the legislature does vote today. Therese Murray says she will allow the vote only if she thinks the amendment can be defeated...they need to have less than 50 votes. It is suspected that she will pull a procedural move if she thinks there are not enough votes to simply defeat this and move on.
It's all so complicated, and I personally wish it would all just go away. There are so many more important things for us to be worrying about in this Commonwealth. Kris Mineau should just go away and mind his own business. Or, even better, turn his prodigious talent for stirring things up to more productive uses, like organising us all to oppose the war in Iraq, or feed hungry people, or clothe the naked, or house the homeless...(sorry, that began to sound like preaching...)
I ramble. I hope this is all over today and we can get on with making the Commonwealth of Massachusetts a beacon of hope, freedom and light to the rest of the nation.
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