The Massachusetts Constitutional Convention just reconvened to consider proposed constitutional amendments to ban same-sex marriage. Although last night's proposals were voted down, it is unclear that the same will happen today.
A
Boston Globe article quotes one gay-rights supporter sounding rather gloomy about today's votes:
"It's increasingly clear that the Legislature is positioning itself to take back the marriage rights we currently have, to take back over 1,000 protections we currently have, to enshrine discrimination into our constitution, and to create a system of separate but unequal," said Arline Isaacson, co-leader of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.
On tap for today are two new proposed amendments. One is by Senator Jarrett Barrios (of Cambridge) and would enshrine protection for same-sex marraige:
It is the public policy of this commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of marriage in order to promote, among other goals, the stability and welfare of society. All marriages between two people shall be eligible for all the rights and benefits of marriage.
The other is by Rep. John Rogers (of Norwood and Walpole) and is positioned as a compromise between House Speaker Finneran's outright ban (with a clause allowing the legislature to pass civil union laws) and the bipartisan amendment defining both marriage and civil unions:
It being the public policy of this Commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of arriage, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Massachusetts. Civil Unions for same sex couples are established hereunder and shall provide entirely the same benefits, protections, rights and responsibilities that are afforded to couples married under state law. Persons of the same sex who married in Massachusetts prior to the effective date of this Article shall be deemed to have formed a civil union consistent with the provisions of this Article.
This Article is self-executing and the general Court shall not enact laws inconsistent with anything herein contained to carry out the purpose of this Article.
Marriage licenses are set to be issued in May to same-sex couples regardless of any amendments passed now. Any amendment would have to receive a majority vote today and next year, before going to the voters in next November for final ratification.