2008 Woodie Awards
Getting gay marriage straight in the Bay State
Issue date: 9/22/05 Section: Editorial
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AT ISSUE: Gay marriage in Massachusetts.
OUR VIEW: All couples deserve equal rights.
On Sept. 14, the state legislature defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage in Massachusetts.
This marks the second victory for gay rights in Massachusetts since May 17, 2004 when the first gay marriage was recognized.
Once again, the Commonwealth has gotten it right: discrimination does not belong in our Constitution.
The proposal-called the Tavaglini-Lees Amendment-was rejected 157-39 after less than two hours of debate at a convention in the Massachusetts State House. In the 16 months since homosexual couples have been legally allowed to marry, the doomsday predictions of gay marriage opponents have proven to be false.
Despite the Vatican's past statement that recognition of gay and lesbian marriage is "the legalization of evil," there has been no deterioration of the values of those who live in Massachusetts since they were implemented last year.
As openly gay State Rep. Carl Sciortino (D-Somerville) said following the 2004 legalization of gay marriage, "Now that May 17 has come and gone...the only repercussions we have witnessed is love and joy of the couples who have benefited from it."
To deny gays the right to marry is blatant discrimination.
By being the first state to legalize and subsequently affirm gay marriage, Massachusetts has shown its capacity for tolerance and equality. If only the rest of the country would follow its lead. Our nation is supposed to offer religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
While many Christians may oppose gay rights because of their religious beliefs, there is no legal justification for prohibiting gays to marry.
In the case of the Tavaglini-Lees Amendment, civil unions would have been legalized, which many, including prominent Democrats John Kerry (D-MA) and John Edwards (D-SC), feel is a reasonable compromise.
OUR VIEW: All couples deserve equal rights.
On Sept. 14, the state legislature defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would have banned gay marriage in Massachusetts.
This marks the second victory for gay rights in Massachusetts since May 17, 2004 when the first gay marriage was recognized.
Once again, the Commonwealth has gotten it right: discrimination does not belong in our Constitution.
The proposal-called the Tavaglini-Lees Amendment-was rejected 157-39 after less than two hours of debate at a convention in the Massachusetts State House. In the 16 months since homosexual couples have been legally allowed to marry, the doomsday predictions of gay marriage opponents have proven to be false.
Despite the Vatican's past statement that recognition of gay and lesbian marriage is "the legalization of evil," there has been no deterioration of the values of those who live in Massachusetts since they were implemented last year.
As openly gay State Rep. Carl Sciortino (D-Somerville) said following the 2004 legalization of gay marriage, "Now that May 17 has come and gone...the only repercussions we have witnessed is love and joy of the couples who have benefited from it."
To deny gays the right to marry is blatant discrimination.
By being the first state to legalize and subsequently affirm gay marriage, Massachusetts has shown its capacity for tolerance and equality. If only the rest of the country would follow its lead. Our nation is supposed to offer religious freedom and the separation of church and state.
While many Christians may oppose gay rights because of their religious beliefs, there is no legal justification for prohibiting gays to marry.
In the case of the Tavaglini-Lees Amendment, civil unions would have been legalized, which many, including prominent Democrats John Kerry (D-MA) and John Edwards (D-SC), feel is a reasonable compromise.