Gay marriage off the chopping block until '07

For those of you just tuning in to the Massachusetts gay marriage amendment issue: the right wingers did a petition drive and gathered 120 thousand signatures to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage. There has been some criticism of the tactics used by the petition gatherers who were paid to collect signatures. The hired signature gatherers were also collecting signatures on another petition unrelated to gay marriage and duped people into signing both without explaining the marriage petition.

Today was the big day when the legislature was supposed to decide and they put it off until Jan 2 which means that if the legislature does not act the initiative dies and the wingers have to gather signatures all over again!

From 365Gay.com

Mass. Lawmakers Put Off Bid To End Gay Marriage

Boston, Massachusetts) The Massachusetts legislature, meeting in a special joint session Thursday, voted to once again delay debate and a vote on a proposed constitutional amendment to end same-sex marriage in the state.

In a 109-87 the Constitutional Convention voted to recess until January 2.

The legislature last year rejected a proposed amendment put forward by lawmakers that would have banned gay marriage but permitted civil unions.

Following that a conservative group began a so-called citizens initiative, collecting 120-thousand signatures - almost double the number of voters needed to force the issue back to the legislature.

A citizen based referendum, the amendment needs the support of only 50 lawmakers - 25 percent of the House and Senate - in two constitutional conventions for it to be put to voters in 2008.

The issue was to have been considered in August but the convention was abruptly adjourned and consideration of the amendment postponed until after the election.

Supporters in the legislature of gay marriage began lobbying this week to put off the session - some even suggesting a walkout to ensure there wasn't a quorum.

Hundreds of people on both sides of the marriage issue gathered in front of the State House as the session got under way.

Two proposed amendments were on the agenda. The first would have invalidated those same-sex marriages already performed in the Commonwealth.

The second would bar same-sex couples from marrying in the future.

Debate was emotional, and at times angry, debate.

"You don't have to live next to us. You don't have to like us," said openly gay state Senator Jarrett T. Barrios (D).

"We are only asking you today to end the debate so that we can sleep easily knowing ... that we will at least have the right to enjoy the same rights the rest of you have enjoyed for time immemorial."

Supporters of the amendment said the people have a right to decide whether to end same-sex marriage in the state.

The first measure, to void those marriage already performed was defeated 196-0.

Then before there could be a vote on the second proposal - one that had support among many Republicans and some Democrats - there was the motion to adjourn.

January 2 is the last day of the current session. If the measure is not passed that day it will die and supporters of the amendment would have to begin collecting signatures all over again. If it passes it would need to be approved a second time in the new session before going to voters.

Since same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts in May 2004 more than 7,000 gay couples have married.