We are thrilled to report that Massachusetts legislators today soundly rejected one constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and recessed the Constitutional Convention until January, thereby effectively derailing a proposed ballot measure which would have ended marriage equality in Massachusetts.
By taking this action, the Legislature sided with the majority of people in Massachusetts who believe that marriage equality is good for families and communities and that it's time to move on to more pressing matters.
In addressing two proposed constitutional amendments that would have stripped away marriage rights for same-sex couples, legislators overwhelmingly defeated the first by a 196 to 0 vote. They then moved to end the debate altogether, thereby effectively terminating our opponents' drive to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the 2008 November ballot. That vote was 109 to 87.
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the many courageous legislators who took a principled stand to stop these discriminatory amendments. They took an historic vote that honors and protects the more than 8,500 married same-sex couples and their families. We especially want to single out the leadership of House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who was relentless in his defense of marriage equality today.
In the next few days, we will ask you to follow up with your individual legislators. In the meantime, please send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper praising today's action.
Special thanks for making today's victory possible go to our talented and hardworking staff, our dedicated board of directors, our committed coalition partners, and the thousands and thousands of you who have taken actions - both large and small - to protect marriage equality here in Massachusetts.
Because of your personal contact with legislators, your letters to the editor, your personal conversations with your family members, friends and co-workers, we have a solid victory today. Without your support, both financial and on-the-ground, today would not have been possible and marriage would still be threatened.
Yes, it is time to celebrate the protection of marriage equality in Massachusetts and I salute you.
With gratitude and admiration,
Marc Solomon
Campaign Director
MassEquality.org
By taking this action, the Legislature sided with the majority of people in Massachusetts who believe that marriage equality is good for families and communities and that it's time to move on to more pressing matters.
In addressing two proposed constitutional amendments that would have stripped away marriage rights for same-sex couples, legislators overwhelmingly defeated the first by a 196 to 0 vote. They then moved to end the debate altogether, thereby effectively terminating our opponents' drive to put a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the 2008 November ballot. That vote was 109 to 87.
We owe a deep debt of gratitude to the many courageous legislators who took a principled stand to stop these discriminatory amendments. They took an historic vote that honors and protects the more than 8,500 married same-sex couples and their families. We especially want to single out the leadership of House Speaker Sal DiMasi, who was relentless in his defense of marriage equality today.
In the next few days, we will ask you to follow up with your individual legislators. In the meantime, please send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper praising today's action.
Special thanks for making today's victory possible go to our talented and hardworking staff, our dedicated board of directors, our committed coalition partners, and the thousands and thousands of you who have taken actions - both large and small - to protect marriage equality here in Massachusetts.
Because of your personal contact with legislators, your letters to the editor, your personal conversations with your family members, friends and co-workers, we have a solid victory today. Without your support, both financial and on-the-ground, today would not have been possible and marriage would still be threatened.
Yes, it is time to celebrate the protection of marriage equality in Massachusetts and I salute you.
With gratitude and admiration,
Marc Solomon
Campaign Director
MassEquality.org
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Massachusetts
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