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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Congrats! An excellent ruling... though now the pressure is on the legislature. Note that the ruling only states that gay marriage cannot be banned under MA constitutional law. Our elected officials now have to decide the matter either way. Finneran has already said he would support an ammendment which essentially counteracts this ruling. This is a step in the right direction, but it sounds like the real fight is to come. One other note, has anyone else noticed the trend in responses of those who oppose this ruling? Those who are not outright bigoted against the idea of gay marriage basically say the same thing: civil unions, domestic partnerships are fine, but calling it marriage is wrong. Why is this so? If we are talking about the exact same rights granted to both married couples and civil union couples (which we should be), then the difference is only in the name. If the argument is that marriage is a "sacred religious union" or something similar then by that definition any mention of marriage in the law would be unconstitutional under seperation of church and state, would it not? My point here is not that the word marriage should be banned or something equally silly, but only that the state already recognizes marriage as a non-religious, binding agreement between two people to share the responsibilities of life together and as a statement of love and respect for each other. People make the argument that it's about family, but the reality is, you do not have to have a liscense to have a child and people have children out of wedlock frequently. In the end it seems like the only block against this is in the minds of those who are not ready to accept that the world has changed and that equality and civil rights are not something that can be withheld on the grounds of race, sex, age or beliefs.
Geoff O., Arlington, MA
I am so proud to be a resident of Massachusetts today. Thank you SJC!!! For those who disagree, I have one recommendation- Please believe what you must but do not trample on my right to have a committed relationship with another consenting adult. My religion forbids me from eating meat but I don't run around trying to ban restaurants from serving meat. Ever heard of seperation of church and state?
Sahil, Brookline, MA
It's just amazing to see so much misinformation presented in this forum. "I believe marriage is a religious matter." Since when? Marriage is a legal term used to define a couple sharing a household; states are just now restricting that definition to mean one man and one woman. Religion has little to do with it; if it did, thousands of legal rights would not be included in the definition. And procreation? Come on! Since when is the ability to produce children a prerequisite for marriage? Has a state ever nullified a marriage because the couple never had children? Absolutely not. Legal same-sex marriage was been happening overseas for years; the world has not ended. More importantly, same-sex households have been common since the beginning of time; we're still here. There is no Apocalypse. Kudos to the SJC for dong what's right; I hope the legislature follows suit.
Jayne, Falmouth
Disgraceful
BD, Amesbury
The idea that this ruling threatens the "institution" of marriage is completely ridiculous. Didn't realize there was so many ignorant people in this state. Hooray for the SJC!
Dave, Newton
Good ruling, but Fineran will do his damndest to stop it, I'm sure. He's the one we have to rule against. But what is with everyone saying, "Now that this ruling has happened people will start marrying their dogs/cats/children/etc.?" The most illogical messages from people I've ever heard. Face it folks, the world has changed and these old arguments make you look foolish.
David, Cambridge
I hope that people will now see past their own insecurities and realize that gay marriage has nothing to do with them. Good luck to those of you fighting a good fight!
Wendy, Stoughton
God created Adam & Eve not Adam & Steve. Marriage should be between a man and woman only. Read your Bible! If others want to get together in a couple situation, call it something else. Don't use the same terms. Also God doesn't bless people who are living in sin. What is happening to our country????
Tom, MSgt USAF (Ret), Lompoc Ca
I'm finally glad that my tax dollars are being invested in something that will make our world a better place. I'm so proud of MA right now. I am very happy for the gay community because they contribute just as much into the communities of America as straights, yet do not recieve the same benefits. However I will say that I am greatly dissapointed in the number people on this message board with ignorant, distasteful and negative comments about a culture they know nothing about.
Jeff, Malden
Great ruling - it's about time. On a side note, it's truly sad and pathetic how a majority of these people who quote the bible and/or have a strong opposition to the ruling are too scared to attribute their own names to their responses. Honestly, though, I'm not surprised. The Klu Klux Klan wore hoods, and other groups that refused to allow others to have human rights never really had the courage to show their faces. Courage is difficult, but hatred and ignorance is apparently pretty easy.
Kevin, Cambridge
