Share your reaction to the gay marriage decision
Massachusetts's highest court ruled 4-3 that same-sex couples are legally entitled to wed under the state constitution, but stopped short of allowing marriage licenses to be issued to the seven couples who challenged the law. The court ordered the Legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days. What are your thoughts on the issue?
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I've been reading all of the responses, and I'm encouraged by all of the support being shown for this ruling. I'm also encouraged by the fact that most of the people upset by this ruling are basing their opinions on their religious beliefs, and not on solid legal precedent. For those bible quoters, you must remember this idea: SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. This is a very important concept (our President should be reminded of this from time to time). Without it, there is no guarantee of religious freedom. Without that, you bible quoters could someday find yourselves being discriminated against because of your beliefs (remember a few hundred years ago when most of our ancestors fled Europe to pray as they wished?). That being said, you must also remember that we are talking about civil marriage here, which has NOTHING to do with the church. Also, we must remember the differences between civil unions and civil marriages---civil unions are a step in the right direction, but they do not guarantee that other states will abide by a couples' wishes when they are traveling. As for the definition of a marriage "between a man and a woman", are people quoting this forgetting that textbook definitions are based in reality, not opinion? Who says a definition can't change? Webster is always updating their dictionary.
Dan #1, Boston
I would like to point out to the writer from Chicopee that we, as a society, are governed not by the “religous (sic) laws of the church” but the laws of our representative government. I hardly think it bears mentioning, but the laws of the church cannot and should not have to apply to a modern, multicultural society. While “marrige” (sic) may be “one of GODS (sic) SACRED SACRIMENTS (sic)” in the Catholic Church, it is also more generally understood as a covenant between two loving, committed people - who may or may not be Catholic, and who now in this state may or may not be heterosexual. For many people same-sex marriage is not “blasphemous to sacrement (sic)” or “apure (sic) slap in the face to GOD,” it’s just a marriage. What’s the problem?
Jay, Boston
What a thrilling day! Now all we need to do is get Romney and others to do the "right" thing. My partner of 16 years have an 18 month old and another on the way in February. I'm hopeful that one day they'll see us walk down the aisle.
Ross, Jamaica Plain
It's about time! As a former employee of Ma-based Lotus Development Corp., the first publicly traded company to offer medical benefits to same-sex couples under CEO, Jim Manzi's direction 7 years ago, I'm proud to be part of another first --a resident of the first state to say that a ban on gay marriage is unconstituional. Let's hope the MA Legislature can come up with an equally courageous solution and allow same-sex couples to obtain marriage licenses. All couples deserve to share the same rights that my husband and I do. I can't imagine being denied access to him under medical conditions, etc. just because we couldn't get a piece of paper delaring us "legal". Committment goes far beyond that but if the law says the piece of paper is necessary then every couple should be able to get one.
Pamela, Gloucester
Yet another gross embarassment for the normal core population of the state. The bleeding liberal element in this state is spreading like a virus and herein lies a disgraceful result of that. The rest of the country has a pathetic enough view of Massachusetts for good reason. The worst part is what are poor kids are being exposed to through all of this.....................................
Stan, Wellesley
Change is never easy for the people who do not directly benefit. Some well-meaning people oppose gay marriage for a variety of reasons, and their reticence does not necessarily make them bigots. The SJC made the right decision today. One day Americans will look back on this decision as the first full step toward the expansion of "all equal under the law" to gay and lesbian citizens of the United States. And just as we look back at the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s today, those future Americans will ask "Why was this decision even controversial?"
Glenn, Wilmington
I am overjoyed that the judges that preside over the Supreme Court of Massachusetts have the integrity to stand up for what is right. To treat ALL citizens of Massachusetts equally, equal priveledges & equal opportunities to build and pursue a life as a couple bound by law, not by what a religious group states. To those people who are morally against homosexuality, its really none of your business whom I choose to spend the rest of my life with, that decision if between me, my partner & my God. I will have to stand before God on that judgement day and answer to HIM, not you, and Biblically speaking, I don't think he's gonna ask me why I was gay or why I spent my life loving a man. If you hypocrites knew what you were talking about, Biblically speaking, you would know that Jesus Christ didn't mention anything about homosexuals, but he DID throw the tax collectors out of the temple, and he DID call the religious leaders of the day hypocrites.......just a little something to ponder.
Maurice J., Fall River
There is a judge, who strongly opposes homosexual relationships, yet equally calls us to love and respect one another. Although I respect the constitution and the law, I am more concerned for what this judge thinks than for what a court of men think.
janet o, somerville
HOORAY!! It IS about time, isn't it? As a heterosexual male, I wonder when the rest of "us" will finally get on board with this. Don't forget, it's EASY to be heterosexual in the USA. Everyone opposed or not so jubilant over this ruling is holding the issue at arm's length. What happens when your son or daughter shows up one day and says he/she is gay? Are you willing to deny them a state of marital bliss then? Think about when the issue comes up and slaps you in the face to have a clear idea of what it's like to be gay in America.
Brian, Newton, MA
I guess now instead of swearing upon a Bible to uphold their committment to protect and defend the constitution of the United States, they will simply hold up a rainbow flag and skip to the tune of We Don't Have Morals and We Don't Care About Decency!!! The moral fabric of this society, this country is very quickly dwindling away. Political correctness and outsourcing overseas will be our downfall. This is just another chip stacked against what this country use to be. For the highest court in the state of MA to endorse and support an illness as normalcy is reprehensible. Are we now going to have the "gay tax" pulled from our paychecks in addition to everything else? God is watching. You may have won a legal battle here, but, good luck when you have to answer to Him.
John, New York
