From
today's Boston Globe:
Massachusetts residents were evenly divided over the Legislature's compromise proposal that bans gay marriage but also provides civil unions for same sex couples, according to a University of Massachusetts poll conducted over the past week.
In the first test of public opinion since the lawmakers' historic vote on March 29, the proposed amendment to the state constitution fell short of getting majority support in the poll, with 47 percent backing the measure and 47 opposing it.
What's interesting are the following numbers from the poll:
Support gay marriage: 40%
Support civil unions but oppose marriage: 28%
Oppose any recognition of gay families: 17%
Issue doesn't matter: 11%
This is pretty good news. We've got a possible two years to sway the civil union supporters and those who don't care about it into our column. On May 17 folks will start getting married.
I'll be honest, despite this year's setback in the leg, I'm starting to feel like we're gonna win this one in the next couple years.
Now, a donation to MassEquality would certainly help engage in the organizing and public education campaigns that will be necessary to ensure this victory.
In a side note. Last night as I was flipping channels, I came across an interview with Senate President Robert Travaglini. He flat out said he though that even if the amendment makes it into the Constitution, it will only last about 10-15 years. I was nearly screaming at the televsion, "Then why the fuck do it?!" But, it seems that even the main sponsor of the amendment recognizes that it's only a medium-term "solution".