Mass. lawmakers block gay marriage vote

[kfrost06]

BOSTON - Massachusetts lawmakers voted Thursday to block a proposed constitutional amendment that would have let voters decide whether to ban gay marriage in the only state that currently allows it.

The narrow vote was a victory for gay marriage advocates and a devastating blow to efforts to reverse the historic 2003 state court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

The proposal needed 50 votes to advance to the 2008 ballot. It got 45, with 151 lawmakers opposed.

Opponents of gay marriage vowed to press on, but Thursday's defeat after more than three years of sometimes wrenching debate could prove insurmountable. Any effort to mount a new ballot question would take years at a time political support in Massachusetts is swinging firmly behind gay marriage.

For gay couples, the vote marked what could be the end of a struggle that began in 2001, when seven same-sex couples, denied marriage licenses, sued in Suffolk Superior Court.

More than 8,500 same sex couples have married in Massachusetts since it became legal in May 2004.

[Logan13]

Ah yes, let's not let the People vote on it, since it will not pass this way. Let's leave it up to judges to make law.........
Let's disregard the will of the people in order to further our agenda...........
Still think that activist judges and politicians could not pass a law in the future that would allow beastiality or pedophiles the ability to further their cause as well?

[Tock]

Ah yes, let's not let the People vote on it, since it will not pass this way. Let's leave it up to judges to make law.........
Let's disregard the will of the people in order to further our agenda...........

And while we're at it, let's let the folks in the southern states vote on the rights of Jews and atheists and Muslims. Nobody really likes them, either; it would be much better to make everybody post the 10 Commandments and make everybody pray to Jesus -- anyone who complains ain't a REAL American, anyway.

[Logan13]

And while we're at it, let's let the folks in the southern states vote on the rights of Jews and atheists and Muslims. Nobody really likes them, either; it would be much better to make everybody post the 10 Commandments and make everybody pray to Jesus -- anyone who complains ain't a REAL American, anyway.

There is no country where homosexuality hails from. Do not equate sexual preference with ethnicity or nationality, they are not even on the same level.

[Tock]

Originally Posted by Tock
And while we're at it, let's let the folks in the southern states vote on the rights of Jews and atheists and Muslims. Nobody really likes them, either; it would be much better to make everybody post the 10 Commandments and make everybody pray to Jesus -- anyone who complains ain't a REAL American, anyway.

There is no country where homosexuality hails from. Do not equate sexual preference with ethnicity or nationality, they are not even on the same level.

What are you griping about now?

The folks in Massachusetts elected representatives to do the State's business. They voted overwhelmingly (151 to 45) not to put the gay marriage issue to a public vote. The grumpy gay-haters aren't happy. You don't sound too happy either. I don't know why -- it's not like you live in Massachusetts and are in peril of having some gay guy make you marry him (can't you just say NO?) . . . And it's not like the gay people up there are going to force a lot of straight guys into gay marriage.

If I were you, I'd be a lot more concerned about getting drafted to go fight Bush's War for Oil in Iran.

[Logan13]

Originally Posted by Tock

The folks in Massachusetts elected representatives to do the State's business. They voted overwhelmingly (151 to 45) not to put the gay marriage issue to a public vote. The grumpy gay-haters aren't happy.
Gay haters? So does that make you a hetero, Christian hater than?
If I were you, I'd be a lot more concerned about getting drafted to go fight Bush's War for Oil in Iran.

Just like all of the oil that we got from Iraq, right Tock?........
At least use some facts Tock.

[Carlos_E]

There is no country where homosexuality hails from. Do not equate sexual preference with ethnicity or nationality, they are not even on the same level.

"In your opinion."

[Logan13]

"In your opinion."

Correct, and I am entitled to it as much as you are to your's...................

[BgMc31]

There is no country where homosexuality hails from. Do not equate sexual preference with ethnicity or nationality, they are not even on the same level.

Is that justification for discrimination?

[Logan13]

Is that justification for discrimination?

Sexual preference has as much relevance as hair and eye color.

[BgMc31]

Sexual preference has as much relevance as hair and eye color.

No one is being discriminated against because of hair and eye color, Logan. When a blue eyed guy or a brown hair girl is kicked out of the military or not allowed to marry because of their hair or eye color, you let me know.

[Logan13]

No one is being discriminated against because of hair and eye color, Logan. When a blue eyed guy or a brown hair girl is kicked out of the military or not allowed to marry because of their hair or eye color, you let me know.

Don't ask, Don't tell. It's the law...............

[BgMc31]

Don't ask, Don't tell. It's the law...............

Ok, piss poor response, Logan. I expected better.

[Coop77]

The Mass constitution has lawmakers vote on what should be on the ballet so every crazy whackjob amendment anybody proposes doesnt end up on the ballet. We can't all vote on every law & amendment that comes up - that's what lawmakers are for. They did their job.

Mass is the most liberal state in the union and if the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway.

[kfrost06]

The Mass constitution has lawmakers vote on what should be on the ballet so every crazy whackjob amendment anybody proposes doesnt end up on the ballet. We can't all vote on every law & amendment that comes up - that's what lawmakers are for. They did their job.

Mass is the most liberal state in the union and if the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway.

O.k. but this only became law because of a judge and not the people and if..."the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway." then why the concern? The people NEVER got to speak on this, well, actually they did and they did not want it but because of a judge that legislates law from the bench they have it now.

[Carlos_E]

O.k. but this only became law because of a judge and not the people and if..."the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway." then why the concern? The people NEVER got to speak on this, well, actually they did and they did not want it but because of a judge that legislates law from the bench they have it now.

Back in the day if you threw on a ballet if the people wanted desegregation they did not want that either.

[kfrost06]

Back in the day if you threw on a ballet if the people wanted desegregation they did not want that either.

You think? I strongly disagree unless you mean only if certain people were allowed to vote. The majority of people did want intergration and thats why we now have it.

[Carlos_E]

You think? I strongly disagree unless you mean only if certain people were allowed to vote. The majority of people did want intergration and thats why we now have it.

I'm saying state wide. There were southern states that did not want it and they had to be dragged kicking and screaming.

[kfrost06]

I'm saying state wide. There were southern states that did not want it and they had to be dragged kicking and screaming.

and I am saying thats because they did not having voting equality at the time, had they had equal voting rights, equal voice for all of age voters then they too would have banned segregation. Same principal applies, let the people speak not the judges who want to legislate law.

[BgMc31]

You think? I strongly disagree unless you mean only if certain people were allowed to vote. The majority of people did want intergration and thats why we now have it.

The majority of whites in most areas weren't open to desegration Kfrost. That explains white flight from many areas in the north and west. Although most whites we open to desegration in stores and such, many weren't open to the idea when it came to housing and schools.

[Logan13]

I'm saying state wide. There were southern states that did not want it and they had to be dragged kicking and screaming.

Perhaps, there was also a little thing called the Civil War as well.

[Logan13]

The majority of whites in most areas weren't open to desegration Kfrost. That explains white flight from many areas in the north and west. Although most whites we open to desegration in stores and such, many weren't open to the idea when it came to housing and schools.

JFK was elected, even with a campaign platform which called for intergration. His brother ran a similar campaign. This is not opinion, it is fact.
No matter how much you fight the facts, intergration happened because it was the right thing to do and most whites were in support of it. If the majority of whites did not support it, it would not have happened.

[Carlos_E]

Perhaps, there was also a little thing called the Civil War as well.

I'm referring to the 60s. The Civil War was not in the 60s.

[Property of Steroid.com]

JFK was elected, even with a campaign platform which called for intergration. His brother ran a similar campaign. This is not opinion, it is fact.
No matter how much you fight the facts, intergration happened because it was the right thing to do and most whites were in support of it. If the majority of whites did not support it, it would not have happened.

JFK was also discriminated against. He was Irish and Catholic....the only Irish/Catholic president ever. People said a mick and a Catholic would never be elected...especially with his family's background of bootlegging.

[kfrost06]

I'm referring to the 60s. The Civil War was not in the 60s.

umm yes it was...the 1860's

[Logan13]

JFK was also discriminated against. He was Irish and Catholic....the only Irish/Catholic president ever. People said a mick and a Catholic would never be elected...especially with his family's background of bootlegging.

Every group has been discriminated against at some point in time. But he was still elected. White hetero males seem to be "out of style" nowadays.

[Logan13]

JFK was also discriminated against. He was Irish and Catholic....the only Irish/Catholic president ever. People said a mick and a Catholic would never be elected...especially with his family's background of bootlegging.

By the way, nice to see you in here. Did you hear about LS (i.e. BP)?

[g101]

nice

[kfrost06]

nice

there's better ways to raise your thread count

[mcpeepants]

Every group has been discriminated against at some point in time. But he was still elected. White hetero males seem to be "out of style" nowadays.

"if you're losing, who's winning"
-Chris Rock

[Hoggage_54]

How could any man be against two women getting married? Seriously, two chicks together ROCK!

[Coop77]

The Mass constitution has lawmakers vote on what should be on the ballet so every crazy whackjob amendment anybody proposes doesnt end up on the ballet. We can't all vote on every law & amendment that comes up - that's what lawmakers are for. They did their job.

Mass is the most liberal state in the union and if the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway.

O.k. but this only became law because of a judge and not the people and if..."the proposed amendment got onto the ballet it would fail anyway." then why the concern? The people NEVER got to speak on this, well, actually they did and they did not want it but because of a judge that legislates law from the bench they have it now.

The people spoke on this when they elected the state reps, who voted 155-41 that this issue is closed in Mass. Nobody cheated. The state constitution was followed to the letter the whole way. By your logic every issue that is proposed added to the ballet should be added, so "the people can speak" on it. Our voting ballets will look like phone books.

Also, can you post a link to whatever activist judge you're talking about. I havent researched this, but the article doesnt mention any judge.

[Roidal]

I don't suppose politicians will like if other people were tell them what to do,
so I'd say let gays and others do whatever ... who cares!

[BigLittleTim]

There is no country where homosexuality hails from. Do not equate sexual preference with ethnicity or nationality, they are not even on the same level.

You're right.

Sexuality is a human trait that goes right down to the roots of an individual person...

Ethnicity and nationality are just superfulous characteristics, bogus groupings, that don't really mean anything at a deep level.

-BigLittleTim

[BigLittleTim]

White hetero males seem to be "out of style" nowadays.

That's why we haven't seen a white heterosexual man running a nation, a major corporation, world religion, military force, university, network, movie studio, bank, or elected to the Senate, Judiciary, or Presidency of the United States in just FOREVER!

-BigLittleTim

[BigLittleTim]

The people NEVER got to speak on this, well, actually they did and they did not want it but because of a judge that legislates law from the bench they have it now.

"The People" never voted to free the slaves, either; or to integrate whites and blacks into the same schools.

The People DID vote, however, to ban the sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages in the United States.


Athenean citizen: "Democracy" is the rule of The People.
Socrates: Yeah, but have you gotten a look at The People, lately?

[kfrost06]

"The People" never voted to free the slaves, either; or to integrate whites and blacks into the same schools.

The People DID vote, however, to ban the sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages in the United States.


Athenean citizen: "Democracy" is the rule of The People.
Socrates: Yeah, but have you gotten a look at The People, lately?

So, correct me if I am wrong, but it sounds like you argueing that we should get rid of democracy? The people can not think for themselves and need a government to it for them.

[linksys2400]

Back in the day if you threw on a ballet if the people wanted desegregation they did not want that either.

Yeah, and look how that turned out...

[Logan13]

You're right.

Sexuality is a human trait that goes right down to the roots of an individual person...

Ethnicity and nationality are just superfulous characteristics, bogus groupings, that don't really mean anything at a deep level.

-BigLittleTim

The type of hole that one chooses to frequent does not "go down to the roots of that person". That is just silly and reveals a very narrow self view.

[BgMc31]

Yeah, and look how that turned out...

Please expound...