Marriage equality advocates, gay rights activists and some members of the Massachusetts legislature celebrated three years of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts. The commonwealth's new governor, Deval Patrick, was the keynote speaker and delivered an impassioned defense of the preserving marriage equality in the only state where it is legal.
Edge Boston publishes the full text of the governor's speech. Here is an excerpt:
I’m glad that we have today to celebate, I’m glad that there’s been three years of sanctimony given to private choices that you have made, and that others have made. I’m glad that we’ve had three years of affirming the basic principle that people come before their government as equals. And I am glad that we have three years of experience of showing that the sky hasn’t fallen and the earth hasn’t opened up.
[cheer]
But - and I’m sure you have been reminded over the course of this evening as you have over the course of the last three years - that there is work left to do. We have a very, very critical milestone coming in just a few weeks with the Constitutional Convention.
[Crowd member yells, ’Help us on the 14th of June!’]
What do you think I’m doing?
At the June 14th Constitutional Convention, legislators are expected to have a final vote that will either move the proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage to the 2008 statewide ballot, or, bury the initiative for good. Gov. Patrick is campaigning against the proposal and new reports say "only eight legislators stand between gay advocates and the 150 total votes required to defeat the amendment."
Meanwhile, as gays and lesbians celebrated the third anniversary of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, new data show the number of gay marriages has dramatically decreased since 2004. But, some experts say this is no cause for concern, it's only natural more gays would marry in the first year.
Gov. Celebrates 3rd Anniv Same-Sex Marriage [Edge]
Governor Patrick's Speech at the Party for Equality [Edge]
Same Sex Marriage on Decline [The Republican]
Some Background:
Governor Warns Anti-Gay Ballot Will Create "Circus" [R20]
Victory in Massachusetts [R20]
Deval Patrick Wins Massachusetts {R20]
Patrick: Clinton Wrong on DOMA [R20]
Parick Wins Nomination {R20]
Mass. Governor Candidate Blasts Rival [R20]
Mass. Court Will Hear Romney's Case [R20]
Governing by constitutional amendment is not the right way to make public policy.
Posted by: Tim | 18 May 2007 at 15:18
The Constitution was drafted to insure the rights of the governed. One of these is equality. Ammending the Constitution to insure equality is fundamentally just. (Plus, Deval Patrick rocks the party that rocks the party!)
From the Declaration of Independence: "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
Posted by: Tanith | 19 May 2007 at 08:10