Civil, Domestic

Massachusetts Keeps Marriage Ban From Vote
published Thursday, June 14, 2007

Massachusetts lawmakers Thursday blocked a proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage from reaching voters, a stunning victory for gay marriage advocates and a devastating blow to efforts to reverse a historic 2003 court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

The narrow 45-151 vote means Massachusetts remains the only state in the nation to allow same-sex couples to marry. The question needed the approval of 50 of 200 senators and representatives to advance to the 2008 ballot.

Both sides pumped thousands of dollars into television, radio, Internet and telephone campaigns. Amendment supporters accused Gov. Deval Patrick of trading job offers for votes, something Patrick denies. Democratic heavyweights such as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have local leaders, fearing a nasty marriage equality fight could detract from the presidential race.

Much has changed in Massachusetts since the last vote, when lawmakers narrowly backed the amendment.

Last session, two of the state's three top political leaders, then Gov. Mitt Romney among them, opposed same-sex marriage. Now all three, including Patrick and new Senate president Therese Murray, who presided over the joint session, support same-sex marriage. (AP)

Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Wow.