blargblog
An expulsive extension of
One by the California Supreme Court ordering a halt to the licensing of same-sex marriages in San Francisco. The other in Massachusettes, where one could argue the snowball started rolling; the state legislature has given preliminary approval to a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriages, but allow civil unions. Interestingly, the 129-69 vote includes support by many gay marriage advocates, leading to speculations that this amendement is being set up only to be knocked down in the final vote. Ah, parliamentarianism; she giveth and she taketh away.
However, if the ban is formally approved by the legislature, it would take two years for the amendment to reach a public vote, by which time minds could change. Maybe a more progressive political climate led by a reasonable centrist in the White House will make constitutionally depriving a class of citizens equal treatment seem extreme and unfair.
Isn't it pretty to think so?
Posted by kevinmoore at March 11, 2004 03:25 PM | TrackBackIt's definitely a put-up job in Massachusetts: approve a much more liberal version of the amendment so that rock-ribbed conservatives join liberals in shooting it down at the final vote. Here's a legislature's-eye view of the procedings.
Posted by: Kip Manley at March 12, 2004 07:47 AM