Thursday, 4:30 PM
Lawmakers put off gay marriage debate
By Andrea Estes and Scott Helman, Globe Staff
State lawmakers voted this afternoon to put off a debate on gay marriage until Nov. 9, two days after the general election.
The delay is likely to cheer advocates of gay marriage, who believe that the more time they have to lobby lawmakers the better chance they have to defeat the proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex weddings.
But the delay drew a condemnation from sponsors of the amendment, who accused the legislative leadership of trying to insulate lawmakers from a tough vote before the Nov. 7 election.
“This move shows the flagrant disregard for the will of the people by Senate President Travaglini and every legislator who voted to recess the convention until November,'' said Kris Mineau, president, Massachusetts Family Institute and spokesman for the ballot coalition, VoteOnMarriage.org.
The vote came at today’s Constitutional Convention after a four-hour debate on other issues, including a measure requiring health care for all Massachusetts residents. The convention voted 118-76 to send the health care amendment to a special study committee, effectively derailing the proposed amendment.
Earlier today hundreds of advocates on both sides of the gay marriage issue descended upon the State House, chanting and cheering and clutching colorful signs.
Supporters and opponents rallied on Beacon Street. On one side, opponents held green and white signs that said "Let the People Vote." On the other side, supporters clutched signs that said "Marriage Equality Works" and "I am Catholic and I Support Gay Marriage."
"I think this is the civil rights issue of our time," said Mea Geizhals, 19, of Mission Hill who arrived at 6:30 a.m. "It's nice to be a part of a movement that feels very pure."
But Thomas Good, 47, a landscaper from Dorchester who took the day off to protest today, said the decision should be left to the people.
"It's my blood-bought right to vote," said Good, holding a sign that said "Adam & Steve = 0 People/Adam & Eve = 6 billion people." "A man and a man cannot reproduce. It's unnatural. The fiber of this country is going down."
Russell Nichols of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
