Thursday, 4:30 PM
Lawmakers reconsider vote advancing proposal to ban gay marriage
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Two hours after advancing a ban on gay marriage, the Legislature moved late this afternoon to reconsider the vote in a move that could ultimately defeat the effort to amend the state Constitution.
Lawmakers recessed a Constitutional Convention while they re-examined the proposed ban, which moved forward earlier today with the approval of 61 lawmakers. The amendment, which only needed 50 votes to stay alive, must be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions to make it on the ballot as a referendum.
The proposed constitutional amendment would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman and would ban future same-sex weddings.
The initiative was originally opposed by 132 lawmakers, 12 short of the number needed to defeat the measure.
Earlier today, Governor-elect Deval Patrick urged lawmakers to defeat the measure by any means necessary to permanently end the debate in Massachusetts, the only state that allows gay marriage.
If the vote stands and the measure advances, it would be a major victory for Governor Mitt Romney, who leaves office in two days but is widely expected to run for president as a social conservative. Romney spearheaded a lawsuit that tried to force lawmakers to act after they adjourned a Constitutional Convention in November without voting on the proposal.
Backers of the proposed constitutional amendment collected more than 123,000 certified signatures in an effort to get the measure on the ballot. However, the initiative still needs the support of 50 lawmakers in two consecutive sessions.
