'The rest, I guess you could say, is history'

At 10:33 p.m., Senator Brian A. Joyce, Democrat of Milton, began a filibuster by reading a lengthy newspaper column. The following are excerpts from the filibuster that consumed the final hour and 27 minutes of the constitutional convention.

Senator Joyce: As we contemplate our vote on this compromise, I thought it prudent to reflect on remarks by Peter Gomes. I will share those with you. [Began reading newspaper column aloud.]

Several lawmakers, sensing the start of a filibuster: "Mr. President!"

Representative Mark J. Carron, Democrat of Southbridge: "Does the gentleman yield?"

Senator Joyce: "No, I will not. Let me get to the subject at hand. We began this convention with a surprise amendment from the gentleman from Boston. . . . [Begins reading the amendment.]

[House members yelled and stormed out, and a recess was called. Several challenges to Joyce's continued remarks were rejected by Travaglini. Joyce returned to the rostrum at about 11 p.m.]

Senator Joyce: Two people who shall go unnamed said they prefer the bird sightings from the Globe. This is serious business. We had an amendment narrowly defeated yesterday, defining one man and one woman for marriage with the hope to get to civil unions. This compromise is now before us. . . . It just seems to me that there's a lot of palace intrigue here in the State House. The hour is late. . . ."

[Senator Joyce yielded his time to Representative Alice Wolf of Cambridge.]

Representative Wolf: I came from Nazi Austria as a 5-year-old. We were very fortunate. This country was a haven. Before we came here, you know many things happened. I am not going to go there, to the Holocaust. But it is very relevant. You should know what can happen on the day to day life of a family when there is gross discrimination. I was a little kid, and my parents could not take me to the local playground because we had to wear a yellow star because we were a Jewish family. That was all. Others wore other colored stars. There were gays and lesbians, Catholics, and gypsies. We could not go to the neighborhood park. My parents were concerned about my well-being. The Nazis invaded, and our whole community was at risk. I learned recently that my parents sent me to live with a friend in a small town where they felt I would be out of danger. . . . The rest, I guess you could say, is history because we were able to come to this wonderful country, and I can stand here and explain this to you. . . .

Representative Vincent A. Pedone, Democrat of Worcester: The chair has been recognizing all opponents of this amendment. Is the chair going to recognize a sponsor like the gentleman from Worcester to speak on this amendment?

Senator Travaglini: I have a list of speakers. The observation is not entirely accurate. Two people have yielded their time to other colleagues. I am unaware of even the identity of some of your colleagues, and I apologize. If I don't know who they are, I don't know where they stand, and you are trying to tell me where they sit. [Laughter.]

Representative Paul Casey, Democrat of Winchester: Could you please oblige this august body as to what list and who might be on it?

Senator Travaglini: No.

Represenative Kathleen M. Teahan, Democrat of Whitman: It's very appropriate that I stand to discuss marriage. Today is my 33d wedding anniversary. [Members applauded.] My husband and I took our vows in Whitman, and at that time my husband was 50 and I was 23. No one thought it would work. They said this is not normal. At that time my husband had been engaged to someone else and I was also. For some reason we met and we came together.

Senator Travaglini: [Asking members to quiet down.] It's her wedding anniversary; if that isn't reason enough. [To Teahan] After 33 years, you have earned the right to be listened to. . . .

Representative Teahan: When my husband was 8, his father died, and his mother raised his brother, his sister, and him and she didn't have a partner for the rest of his life. My husband left coaching and teaching to become a legislator. He took some difficult votes, and he voted for rights for gays and lesbians between 1973 and 1976. That was not an easy vote for him to take. When my husband left the chamber in 1976, he worked for the Patriots and scouted on the East Coast. He died when he was scouting part time. What I remember from all the comment when he passed away, it was not, `Thank you for being a wonderful coach or for the lectures,' it was, `Thank you for helping me realize I could be an important person in the world.' I want to be able to live with my vote and be proud of what we do in this chamber. I love the people from my district. They feel my vote will not let them vote. It is not that simple. The framers realized that constitutional changes needed to be thought out carefully. This is the first step, a decision after a long deliberation. I have to vote what is in my heart.

Senator Travaglini: The clerk informs me it is midnight.

Material from State House News Service was used in this report.