We won!

[liz_marcs]

Massachusetts Legislature Preserves Equality Marriage 45 — 151; Same-Sex Marriage Ban Shot Down

A heart-felt thank you to the State Legislature for finally putting the nail in the coffin.

Massachusetts citizens stunned and amazed that sanity finally won

"Stick a fork in this issue, it's done," sez one relieved citizen. "Our long state-wide nightmare is finally over."


Who'd you rather hang out with?

These guys....


Photo by George Rizer from The Boston Globe (6/14/2007)


Or these guys...


Photo by George Rizer from The Boston Globe (6/14/2007)

Comments

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Yes! There is some sanity left in the great state of Massachusetts! If only the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the other states would follow suit. But, alas, it appears that currently we are Cool, Cool, Considerate Men. Where is John Adams when we need him?

[tintros.livejournal.com]

This is where I'm the unpopular guy that points out that doing something wrong for the right reasons doesn't make it the right thing.

If the situation were opposite, and despite huge groundswell, petitions, campaigning, etc. the decision had been that people would not be allowed to *establish* gay marraige, would it still be such a great thing to ignore putting something to a vote?

Just because you get what you want (a bridge, a park, immigration legislation you agree with, homosexual marriage, universal health care, etc) does not justify doing -anything- to get it.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

Here's the difference: A park, a bridge, and universal health care aren't about civil rights.

Equality marriage is. Because without legal recognition of a partnership between two people, their rights may (and are) curtailed.

You do not put civil rights up for a voice vote, ever!

Period. Amen. Case closed.

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

If Alabama had put equal rights for African Americans up to a popular vote back in, say, 1965, what do you imagine would have happened? Certain things need to happen in a certain way to prevent tyranny of the majority.

[liz-marcs.livejournal.com]

There is something else missed in this as well...

A lot of people who were for banning equality marriage got voted out of office over the last two elections. They didn't retire. They didn't quit. They were voted out.

So like it or not, the will of the people was reflected in today's vote, albeit indirectly.

Also, think about this: 151 legislators voted against placing equality marriage up for a vote. Only 45 legislators actually voted for it, and all of them were against equality marriage to begin with.

In Massachusetts, you only needed 50 legislators (out of 200) to put in on the ballot.

As amazing as it might be to people who live outside the New England region, that means less than 1 in 4 legislators oppose equality marriage. In short, equality marriage has been the norm for three years now, and it hasn't harmed one single sole one bit — although it's helped more than 8,500 couples acquire legal rights that they didn't have four short years ago.

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

That is an excellent point, citizens do have more than one method to express their will. Recently here in Texas, all the county and city-wide judicial positions up for election in 2006 in Dallas went Democrat, all at once. It's a small signal, but we do get to send them occasionally. (I was pleased y'all bounced Mitt's Chosen Successor out on his backside in the last governor's election :D)

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

Actually, it was a *her*. :)

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

*blush* In my defense, Mass. is REALLY far away...

[lizziebelle.livejournal.com]

That's OK. :)

We're just glad that we finally have a Democrat in office. I still can't believe Romney ever won here.

[theantijoss.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the update, honey!

And as for the question? Please put me down for #1. :)

[darkluna.livejournal.com]

Yay, Mass! This news makes me so happy.

If only TN had a snowball's chance in hell of ever allowing equal marriage rights.

[postholedigger.livejournal.com]

Yays! And see, MA has started the ball rolling enough that eventually it will be a federal law--like women's right to vote, which LA still won't ratify but they have to allow anyway. I'm humming Dropkick Murphys Boston right now, since... y'know, don't know a kick-ass pro MA song.

[inmyriadbits.livejournal.com]

Hip-hip, hooray! :D

It's nice to see at least one thing go right in this country. *loves your state* (*is from Texas*)

[ponders-life.livejournal.com]

::does happydance::

It is a good day, indeed. I'm so proud to be a Massacusetts resident!

::hopes we can vote the other 45 people out of office ASAP::

[unusualmusic.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha! Love the Pics. The juxtaposition is highly amusing. And lets have a round of applause and a toast to common sense! Hell yes, little by little, humanity is becoming civilized!

[nwhepcat.livejournal.com]

::twirls Massachusetts::

[taerowyn.livejournal.com]

SWEET!!!!

Been at a work retreat all day and thus news-less. And then home to find some of the bestest news ever.

OK, sometimes MA just rocks.

[(Anonymous)]

I can't tell from that photo who is on which side of the issue. So to tell the truth neither group looks like it would be particular fun to 'hang' with.