Opponents eye ballot question for 2008

Although the Legislature killed a proposed constitutional amendment yesterday that sought to ban same-sex marriage and establish civil unions, the battle is far from over in Massachusetts. Conservative opponents are setting their sights on a 2008 ballot initiative to ban same-sex marriage.

Here is a likely timeline for the gay marriage issue:

Sept. 21-Nov. 23: Backers of the proposed 2008 ballot question to ban same-sex marriage have about two months to collect the signatures of at least 65,825 registered voters. The signatures must then be certified by the municipal clerks where the voters reside and by the secretary of state's office.

Nov. 24-Dec. 1: Opponents of the ballot question, led by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, will probably file an appeal of Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly's recent certification of the question. A single justice of the Supreme Judicial Court would preside.

May 10, 2006: The Legislature reconvenes as a constitutional convention to vote on proposed ballot questions, including the proposal to ban same-sex marriage. The measure needs a minimum of 50 votes for preliminary approval.

May-June 2006: The SJC would be expected to rule on the appeal by GLAD. If the court reverses certification, the initiative is dead.

Jan. 1, 2007-July 31, 2008: If the Legislature did give preliminary approval to the ballot question, it would then need to pass the question again in this period with a minimum of 50 votes to advance it to the November 2008 statewide ballot.

Nov. 4, 2008: Election Day. Voters would consider the amendment to ban same-sex marriage. If it passes, same-sex marriage would be outlawed in the state. Same-sex marriages in Massachusetts that took place before the passage of the amendment would still be considered legal.

RAPHAEL LEWIS