Mass. lawmakers sidestep gay marriage issue

Massachusetts lawmakers Thursday again avoided taking a formal stand on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage, recessing a constitutional convention instead of taking up the issue.

If lawmakers do not vote on the measure before the next Legislature takes office, the amendment will not appear on the November 2008 ballot. A vote appeared unlikely because lawmakers recessed until Jan. 2, the last day of this session.

Lawmakers voted 196-0 to reject a proposed amendment that would bar same-sex marriages and invalidate the thousands that have already been conducted, but decided 109-87 to recess without voting on another measure that would stop such marriages only after the amendment was enacted.

“This is over. It’s over,” said Arline Isaacson of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.

Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which opposes same-sex marriage, said the Legislature was “thumbing its nose” at the constitution.

Supporters of the less restrictive measure, the subject of a petition drive, accused supporters of same-sex marriage of using the first question to detract attention from their own. They said voters deserved a chance to decide whether same-sex marriage -- imposed on the state by its highest court -- should remain legal, especially since 170,000 of them signed petitions calling for the measure.

“I’m probably 3,000 feet to the right of Attila the Hun. But the gracious people, the socially conscious people, the liberal people, you’re the ones who always want everyone to be heard. What about these 170,000 people?” said Democratic state Rep. Marie Parente.

Democratic state Sen. Jarrett Barrios, an openly gay member of the Legislature, warned colleagues that putting same-sex marriage on the ballot would lead to a campaign vilifying gays.

“You don’t have to live next to us, you don’t have to like us,” Barrios said. “We are only asking you today to end the debate so that we can sleep easily knowing that while you may not live next to us or even like us that we will at least have the right to enjoy the same rights the rest of you enjoy.”