Gay Marriage Still OK in Massachusetts

In a huge victory for gay rights activists the state legislature of Massachusetts today defeated a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage. This ends a three-year campaign to overturn the legalization of gay marriage.

The Boston Herald reports that the ban was defeated in a roll-call vote of both houses of the Legislature. This dramatic legislative battle ended with the thunderous applause of gay couples seated in the Senate House. The final vote tally was 151-45, a slim 5 point margin of victory for gay marriage supporters.

Massachusetts is currently the only state where same-sex unions are legal. Today’s vote means the ban will be blocked from reaching the 2008 ballot, allowing gay marriage to clear its first hurdle since it was legalized in a historic 2003 state court ruling. The 2003 decision ruled that a ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional that paved the way for the country's first same-sex marriages the next year. According to Reuters, over 8,000 gay and lesbian couples have been married since then.

The proposed ban was defeated due to a number of lawmakers changing their votes, though it is still unclear why they did so.

Today’s vote caused quite a stir at the State House both supporters and protesters surrounded the building to voice their opinion. Those in favor of the ban voiced their disapproval of the decision. Chants of “let the people vote” could be heard before and after the decision. George Howe, an opponent of same sex marriage told Reuters, “Everybody comes from a man and a woman. That’s the basic fundamental group or unit of society. People get caught up in man-man or woman-woman relationships, they are missing the point.” Opponents say they want an investigation into whether ethics were violated in the lobbying process to get some lawmakers to change their vote.

Those who favor the ban however, could not be happier. Lee Swislow, executive director of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, was reported as saying, by the Houston Chronicle, “We’re proud of our state today, and we applaud the Legislature for showing that Massachusetts is strongly behind fairness.”

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