Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

A glorious victory

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45 members voted “yes.”  151 voted “no.”  And with that, a mean-spirited constitutional amendment that would have helped no one, and hurt a lot of people, suffered a well-deserved death.  And it did so without parliamentary tricks — rather, it did so through an open constitutional process, exactly as envisioned by the drafters of Article 48.  No one — repeat, NO ONE — can question the legitimacy of this wretched amendment’s being kept off the ballot. We have a system; the system worked.

We’ll post roll-calls when we get them — if anyone has them, drop ’em in the comments. 

Hearty congratulations to all who poured their hearts and souls into defeating the anti-marriage amendment.  Kudos in particular to the folks at MassEquality, whose tireless hard work paid off today.

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Comments

  1. Brown, Hedlund (thought he might switch against), Moore, Creedon, and Panagiotakos.

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    I hope Scott Brown does run against Kerry for Senate in 2008 so Kerry can school him and we can comfortably get Brown’s seat back for the Dems.

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    Also, notable Senators who could have gone either way but rightly voted against the amendment: Candaras and Morrissey (that I noticed, anyway).

    • Honestly, folks, we in Lowell tried our damndest. I am ashamed of Panagiotakos. Generally he’s on the right side of many votes, but this one was egregious.

    • He’s always been conservative as a Senator. But then again, I lived on the same corridor at Patterson Dorm with the guy, back in the days of UMass when they had door-by-door (as opposed to floor-by-floor) coed dorms, and he always seemed fairly relaxed when it came to matters of sexuality.

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      We had four theater majors living in our corridor (including me) and so lots of gay kids from the department would be stopping by to visit. Mike (or “Chump,” as my roommate dubbed him for some odd reason) was the quintissential party organizer (his specialty was mixing up a concoction called a “powerhouse” in kitchen-wastebasket sized containers for the dorn parties – remember, the drinking age was 18 in those days!) – and he was always one to welcome non-corridor guests with a sarcastic joke and a drink, no matter who they were or who accompanied them, or what that companion’s gender was.

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      When it came to this vote, chances are he put politics aside, simply dug down into his basic gregarious sense of humanity, and did the right thing. If so, good for him! But either way, I’m glad he made the switch.

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      Thanks for keeping on top of this, Charlie and the rest. I couldn’t bring myself to even follow the liveblogging, so fearful was I that the bigots would prevail.

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      I’m going to go out and celebrate tonight – I might even go down to Water Street in Worcester to watch the gay community whoop it up, and join in too!

  2. I just watched it and I’m sittin’ here still crying!

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    I just can’t f’in’ believe it!

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    Thanks to all who helped.

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    I hope Arlene Isaacson gets a good night’s sleep.

  3. Finally we can get back to doing the business of running the state and stop waiting for the shoe to drop at every con con.

  4. My only sadness right now is that I am here and my lovely and incredible wife is home and we are doing our jumping up and down in separate locations. Thanks for all who have worked so hard for so long to put this bad baby to bed.

  5. …days my husband and I will celebrate our third anniversary and it will be the first one without some dark cloud hanging over it.  This year we’re definitely ordering the champagne!!!

      • Michael Morrisey I believe was a switch and a big one from Geraldo Alicea – new Rep from Southbridge who deserves our Kudos….

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        Here’s what Kris Mineau has to say…”Massachusetts Family Institute President Kris Mineau tells the press that is going to call for an investigation into the lawmakers who switched their vote. He said he wants to know if anything illegal happened in the pressure put on lawmakers.”

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        Typical.

        • … the sunshine.  Let all the details come out so that nobody can every put a cloud over the vote’s legitimacy.  Once they come to that conclusion how much do you want to bet that the story never comes out?

          • run from sunshine. It’s toxic to them.

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            I hope he slinks away to whatever hideyhole he emerged from now that the bigots have lost. Good riddance.

        • Considering that the 6th Worcester District was the biggest vote for Bush in 2004, Rep. Alicea’s vote is quite courageous. Everybody on this blog should remember his courage in 2008 because he will likely need our help.

            • He did vote the right way on this issue, and I’m proud of him for it. I did tell him that 1,000 times while playing devil’s advocate.

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              We both know that he and legislators like him are likely going to have fights on their hands, and that we’ll need to be there for them to ensure their victory next year.

        • Here’s what Kris Mineau has to say…”Massachusetts Family Institute President Kris Mineau tells the press that is going to call for an investigation into the lawmakers who switched their vote. He said he wants to know if anything illegal happened in the pressure put on lawmakers.”

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          Good luck trying to get them back on your side, Kris! Let us know how that works…

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        • If Kris is seriously wanting to make hetero marriage all that it can be, he’ll run this WA campaign in MA.  I mean, let’s get serious about your feeble institution, Kris!

  6. WAY TO GO MASS EQUALITY!!! One of the most organized, powerful, well-run political organizations that Massachusetts has ever seen. In baseball, they say you win or lose based on how you play the fundamentals, and MassEquality executed the fundamentals soundly the entire year … My congratulations and thanks go out especially to the fine people of that organization…

  7. Now that is how you protect equality. Way to go everybody who worked on this campaign!

  9. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to make this happen and to the courageous Legislators who did the right thing.  This is a great day for Massachusetts! 

    • This is to Senators Tarr, Tisei, Representative Hill and any other Republicans who consistently stood with equality and did not budge on their principles when their own party endorsed placing the discriminatory measure on the state ballot. Certainly every yes vote, especially the switches, took political courage but we can all agree that the Republicans who defied their own party’s platform had the most to lose on this one so congratulations.

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      And for the Democrats who still voted Yes you have also defied your party’s platform and for that you will pay at the ballot box in 08, especially you Donato.

  10. I know it’s not over because these trolls will never let it be over, but this should at least tarnish their credibility in the future.

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    Let’s work to unseat all those who voted yes!

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    WAHOOO!!!

  11. This is a truly joyous day for equality supporters everywhere. Along with the thousands upon thousands of gay couples in this state, I’d like to recognize another big winner today. The Massachusetts Constitution, not only was the process upheld, but our Constitution won’t be used as a tool for hatred and discrimination.

  12. Well, well, well, whodathunkit?  MassEquality deserves all the praise we can muster for running a focused, respectful, and thoroughly professional campaign to change hearts and minds. 

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    What a great day!!  Yippee!! 

    • Mass Equality was directly responsible for changing Rep. Golden’s mind…bringing gay, married constituants to him to tell their stories, in that old-fashioned way of connecting citizens to those who represent them. Golden, I hear, was touched by the stories and changed his vote.

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      Non-confrontational, but steady and carefully, they won a lot of people over.

  14. Thank you.

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    Thank you to all the legislators who voted for equality today.  Thank you to all the individuals and couples and families who shared their stories and presented the very human face of this long struggle.  Thank you to MassEquality and the many other organizations and institutions who worked tirelessly to protect my human rights.  Thank you to the countless individuals who gave their time and their money to make today a reality.  Thank you to BMG for providing a forum for discourse (and even disagreement) and to its members who have spoken so eloquently and passionately about this issue. 

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    As a gay man, I feel so very proud and humbled and accepted today.  I must confess that when the marriage fight was taken up several years ago I was one of those who feared that the time was not right; that the backlash would be too great.  I feared that our cause would be set back and that other priorities (protections in the workplace and in housing) would be sacrificed to a dream which was doomed to ultimate failure (at least in the short term).  I was wrong.  Indeed, I knew I was wrong the moment that the Goodridge decision came down because I was truly stunned by how much it meant to me. 

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    Many of us who are gay (and, thankfully now, of a certain age) had long dismissed marriage as an antiquated institution and unnecessary social construct.  Again, I was wrong, or more accurately, self-deluded.  Such foolish thoughts were clearly designed to shield myself from the pain and shame of being excluded from this treasured and unattainable experience.  In my heart of hearts I knew that marriage was a wonderful and amazing institution, but I simply could not lend credence to an institution in which I knew I could never share.  I know it sounds a bit foolish at this point, but defense mechanisms are often foolish in some way. 

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    Thankfully, my perception and my life changed on November 18, 2003.  I have not yet married, but thanks to Julie Goodridge, David Wilson, Robert Compton, Michael Horgan, Edward Balmelli, Maureen Brodoff, Ellen Wade, Gary Chalmers, Richard Linnell, Heidi Norton, Gina Smith, Gloria Bailey, Linda Davies, and so many others who had vision and courage, I too can share in this greatest of institutions forevermore.

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    Thank you.

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    Tim Schofield

    • Many of us who are gay (and, thankfully now, of a certain age) had long dismissed marriage as an antiquated institution and unnecessary social construct.  Again, I was wrong, or more accurately, self-deluded.  Such foolish thoughts were clearly designed to shield myself from the pain and shame of being excluded from this treasured and unattainable experience.  In my heart of hearts I knew that marriage was a wonderful and amazing institution, but I simply could not lend credence to an institution in which I knew I could never share.

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      {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{BIG FAT HUGS!!!!}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

    • I’d like to call for an investigation into the web designers who switched their sites. I want to know if anything illegal happened in the pressure put on those webmasters.

  18. …and a clear statement for equality.

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    Not saving civil rights by trickery, killing the vote, maneuvering against a cause, and hiding behind curtains.  Nobody got ripped off or cheated — the side of equality played fair and pasted the haters.

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    The people and their servants of Massachusetts said without shadow, without doubt, without reservation…YES to equality and NO to bigotry.  There’s no spin to make and no questions to raise.

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    Bigots are not welcome in my state, nor are their attempts to force their beliefs on us.

  19. Here’s how members of the Massachustts Legislature voted Thursday on a proposed 2008 ballot question that would ban gay marriage. The vote was 45-151. Fifty votes were needed to move it to a statewide ballot question in 2008.

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    Sign up for: Globe Headlines e-mail | Breaking News Alerts A “yes” vote was in favor of the ballot question; a “no” vote was against it.

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    SENATE

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    Robert A. Antonioni, D-Leominster – N

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    Edward M. Augustus, D-Worcester – N

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    Steven A. Baddour, D-Methuen – N

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    Jarrett T. Barrios, D-Cambridge – N

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    Frederick E. Berry, D-Peabody – N

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    Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre – N

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    Scott P. Brown, R-Wrentham – Y

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    Stephen J. Buoniconti, D-West Springfield – N

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    Gale D. Candaras, D-Wilbraham – N

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    Harriette L. Chandler, D-Worcester – N

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    Robert S. Creedon Jr., D-Brockton – Y

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    Cynthia Stone Creem, D-Newton – N

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    Benjamin B. Downing, D-Pittsfield – N

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    Susan C. Fargo, D-Lincoln – N

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    John A. Hart, D-Boston – N

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    Robert A. Havern, D-Arlington – N

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    Robert L. Hedlund, R-Weymouth – Y

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    Patricia Jehlen, D-Somerville – N

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    Brian A. Joyce, D-Milton – N

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    Michael R. Knapik, R-Westfield – N

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    Thomas M. McGee, D-Lynn – N

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    Joan M. Menard, D-Fall River – N

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    Mark C. Montigny, D-New Bedford – N

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    Richard T. Moore, D-Uxbridge – Y

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    Michael W. Morrissey, D-Quincy – N

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    Therese Murray, D-Plymouth – N

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    Robert D. O’Leary, D-Barnstable – N

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    Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton – N

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    Steven C. Panagiotakos, D-Lowell – Y

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    Pamela P. Resor, D-Acton – N

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    Stanley C. Rosenberg, D-Amherst – N

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    Karen E. Spilka, D-Ashland – N

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    Bruce E. Tarr, R-Gloucester – N

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    James E. Timilty, D-Walpole – N

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    Richard R. Tisei, R-Wakefield – N

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    Steven A. Tolman, D-Boston – N

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    Susan C. Tucker, D-Andover – N

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    Marian Walsh, D-West Roxbury – N

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    Dianne Wilkerson, D-Boston – N

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    HOUSE:

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    Geraldo Alicea, D-Charlton – N

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    Willie Mae Allen, D-Boston – N

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    Cory Atkins, D-Concord – N

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    Demetrius J. Atsalis, D-Hyannis – X

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    Bruce J. Ayers, D-Quincy – Y

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    Ruth B. Balser, D-Newton – N

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    Fred Barrows, R-Mansfield – Y

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    John J. Binienda, D-Worcester – Y

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    Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams – N

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    Garrett J. Bradley, D-Hingham – N

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    William N. Brownsberger, D-Belmont – N

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    Antonio F. D. Cabral, D-New Bedford – N

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    Jennifer M. Callahan, D-Sutton – N

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    Thomas Calter, D-Kingston – N

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    Linda Dean Campbell, D-Methuen – Y

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    Christine E. Canavan, D-Brockton – N

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    Stephen R. Canessa, D-New Bedford – N

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    Paul C. Casey, D-Winchester – Y

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    Cheryl A. Coakley-Rivera, D-Springfield – N

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    Thomas F. Conroy, D-Wayland – N

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    Robert Correia, D-Fall River – Y

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    Michael A. Costello, D-Newburyport – N

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    Geraldine Creedon, D-Brockton – Y

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    Sean Curran, D-Springfield – Y

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    Steven J. D’Amico, D-Seekonk – N

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    Robert A. DeLeo, D-Winthrop – N

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    Viriato Manuel deMacedo, R-Plymouth – Y

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    Salvatore F. DiMasi, D-Boston – N

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    Stephen DiNatale, D-Boston – N

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    Paul J. Donato, D-Medford – Y

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    Christopher J. Donelan, D-Orange – N

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    Joseph R. Driscoll Jr., D-Braintree – N

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    James B. Eldridge, D-Acton – N

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    Lewis G. Evangelidis, R-Holden – Y

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    James H. Fagan, D-Taunton – Y

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    Christopher G. Fallon, D-Malden – N

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    Mark V. Falzone, D-Saugus – N

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    Robert F. Fennell, D-Lynn – N

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    John V. Fernandes, D-Milford – N

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    Michael E. Festa, D-Melrose – N

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    Barry R. Finegold, D-Andover – N

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    Jennifer Flanagan, D-Leominster – N

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    David L. Flynn, D-Bridgewater – Y

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    Linda Dorcena Forry, D-Boston – N

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    Gloria L. Fox, D-Boston – N

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    John P. Fresolo, D-Worcester – Y

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    Paul K. Frost, R-Auburn – Y

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    William C. Galvin, D-Canton – N

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    Colleen M. Garry, D-Dracut – Y

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    Susan W. Gifford, R-Wareham – Y

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    Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer – N

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    Thomas A. Golden Jr., D-Lowell – N

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    Mary E. Grant, D-Beverly – N

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    William G. Greene Jr., D-Billerica – Y

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    Denis Guyer, D-Dalton – N

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    Patricia A. Haddad, D-Somerset – N

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    Geoffrey D. Hall, D-Westford – N

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    Robert S. Hargraves, R-Groton – Y

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    Lida E. Harkins, D-Needham – N

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    Bradford Hill, R-Ipswich – N

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    Kevin G. Honan, D-Boston – N

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    Donald F. Humason Jr., R-Westfield – Y

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    Frank M. Hynes, D-Marshfield – Y

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    Bradley H. Jones Jr., R-North Reading – N

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    Louis L. Kafka, D-Stoughton – N

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    Michael F. Kane, D-Holyoke – Y

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    Rachel Kaprielian, D-Watertown – N

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    Jay R. Kaufman, D-Lexington – N

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    John D. Keenan, D-Salem – N

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    Thomas P. Kennedy, D-Brockton – N

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    Kay Khan, D-Newton – N

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    Peter V. Kocot, D-Northampton – N

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    Robert M. Koczera, D-New Bedford – N

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    Peter J. Koutoujian, D-Waltham – N

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    Paul Kujawski, D-Webster – N

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    Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington – N

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    William Lantigua, D-Lawrence – Y

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    Stephen P. LeDuc, D-Marlborough – N

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    John A. Lepper, R-Attleboro – Y

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    David P. Linsky, D-Natick – N

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    Barbara A. L’Italien, D-Andover – N

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    Paul Loscocco, R-Holliston – N

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    Elizabeth A. Malia, D-Boston – N

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    Ronald Mariano, D-Quincy – N

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    James J. Marzilli Jr., D-Arlington – N

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    Allen J. McCarthy, D-East Bridgewater – N

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    James R. Miceli, D-Wilmington – Y

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    Michael Moran, D-Boston – N

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    Charles A. Murphy, D-Burlington – N

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    James M. Murphy, D-Weymouth – Y

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    Kevin M. Murphy, D-Lowell – N

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    David M. Nangle, D-Lowell – Y

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    Patrick Natale, D-Woburn – N

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    Harold P. Naughton Jr., D-Clinton – N

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    Robert J. Nyman, D-Hanover – N

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    James O’Day, D-West Boylston – N

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    Eugene L. O’Flaherty, D-Chelsea – N

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    Matthew C. Patrick, D-Falmouth – N

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    Sarah Peake, D-Provincetown – N

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    Vincent A. Pedone, D-Worcester – N

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    Alice H. Peisch, D-Wellesley – N

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    Jeffrey D. Perry, R-Sandwich – Y

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    Douglas W. Petersen, D-Marblehead – N

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    George N. Peterson Jr., R-Grafton – Y

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    Thomas M. Petrolati, D-Ludlow – Y

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    Anthony W. Petruccelli, D-Boston – N

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    William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox – N

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    Elizabeth A. Poirier, R-North Attleboro – Y

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    Karyn E. Polito, R-Shrewsbury – Y

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    Denise Provost, D-Somerville – N

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    Angelo Puppolo, D-Wilbraham – N

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    John F. Quinn, D-Dartmouth – N

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    Kathi-Anne Reinstein, D-Revere – N

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    Robert Rice Jr., D-Gardner – N

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    Pam Richardson, D-Framingham – N

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    Michael J. Rodrigues, D-Westport – N

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    Mary S. Rogeness, R-Longmeadow – Y

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    John H. Rogers, D-Norwood – N

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    Richard J. Ross, R-Wrentham – N

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    Michael F. Rush, D-Boston – Y

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    Byron Rushing, D-Boston – N

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    Jeffrey Sanchez, D-Boston – N

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    Rosemary Sandlin, D-Agawam – N

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    Tom Sannicandro, D-Ashland – N

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    Angelo M. Scaccia, D-Boston – Y

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    John W. Scibak, D-South Hadley – N

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    Carl M. Sciortino Jr., D-Somerville – N

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    Stephen Smith, D-Everett – N

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    Frank I. Smizik, D-Brookline – N

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    Todd M. Smola, R-Palmer – Y

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    Theodore C. Speliotis, D-Danvers – N

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    Robert P. Spellane, D-Worcester – N

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    Christopher N. Speranzo – D-Pittsfield – N

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    Joyce A. Spiliotis, D-Peabody – Y

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    Marie P. St. Fleur, D-Boston – X

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    Harriett L. Stanley, D-West Newbury – N

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    Thomas M. Stanley, D-Waltham – N

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    Ellen Story, D-Amherst – N

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    William M. Straus, D-Mattapoisett – N

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    David B. Sullivan, D-Fall River – N

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    Benjamin Swan, D-Springfield – N

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    Walter F. Timilty, D-Milton – Y

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    A. Stephen Tobin, D-Quincy – Y

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    Timothy J. Toomey Jr., D-Cambridge – N

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    David M. Torrisi, D-North Andover – N

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    Eric Turkington, D-Falmouth – N

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    Cleon H. Turner, D-Dennis – N

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    James E. Vallee, D-Franklin – N

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    Anthony J. Verga, D-Gloucester – X

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    Joseph F. Wagner, D-Chicopee – N

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    Brian P. Wallace, D-Boston – N

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    Patricia A. Walrath, D-Stow – N

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    Martin J. Walsh, D-Boston – N

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    Steven M. Walsh, D-Lynn – N

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    Martha M. Walz, D-Boston – N

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    Daniel K. Webster, R-Hanson – Y

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    James T. Welch, D-West Springfield – N

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    Alice K. Wolf, D-Cambridge – N

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    N no

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    Y yes

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    X not voting

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    • Those who switched:
      Sen. Candaras
      Sen. Morrissey
      Rep. Canavan
      Rep. Kujawski
      Rep. Nyman
      Rep. Vallee
      Rep. Wallace
      Rep. Loscocco (R)
      Rep. Ross (R)

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      Those who were absent (who mattered):
      Rep. Verga… and we wish him a speedy recovery

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      Freshmen who stood with us:
      Sen. Downing
      Rep. Alicea
      Rep. Allen
      Rep. Brownsberger
      Rep. Calter
      Rep. Conroy
      Rep. D’Amico
      Rep. DiNatale
      Rep. Fernandes
      Rep. McCarthy
      Rep. McMurtry
      Rep. O’Day
      Rep. Peake
      Rep. Puppolo (!)
      Rep. Sandlin
      Rep. Smith

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      Freshmen who didn’t:
      Rep. Campbell
      Rep. Barrows (R)

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      … I think that covers all of them. Now it’s time to thank our friends, and you know what to do with the rest of them!

      • …they switched from “yes” (to refer the amendment to the ballot) to “no.” 

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        If that’s the case, I’m surprised that two Republicans (if that’s what you mean by “R”) would vote “no.”  I don’t know what areas they are representing, but is it perhaps because the state Republican party leadership’s recent entreaties that the party not appear so bigotted on social issues.

        • I recall that Jo Ann Sprague voted consistently “No” on every vote regarding every anti-gay-marriage amendment proposal.

      • The 6th Worcester district was formerly held by Mark Carron, an amendment supporter with whom I had huge disagreements on this issue. This district is very conservative on social issues, which makes Geraldo Alicea’s vote a brave and principled one.

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        The 8th Worcester is another conservative southern Worcester County seat. Rep. Kujawski’s flip is very surprising to me, which makes me believe that the Speaker finally got to him. Of course, why he changed his vote isn’t as important as the fact that he did change his vote to the right one.

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        This day was full of surprises… pleasant ones!

      • … she is one of “us”, so I’d hope so.  đŸ˜‰

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        Although had her opponent won, him being one of “us” in one way, but not another… well let’s just all be glad that she won that race!

      • If either Rep. Loscocco or Rep. Ross ever finds himself in Pittsfield, the beer is on me.

        • Word has it there might be a nurse out that way thinking about taking him on.  Stay tuned.

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          Moore’s a snake that REALLY MUST BE REPLACED; he’s Chair of the Healthcare Finance Committee and it was Moore who led the efforts to kill the citizens Healthcare Amendment.

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          Our case is pending before the State Supreme Court. Stay tuned on that one, too.

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          Heartfelt “Thank You’s!!” and also Congratulations to all of us who worked for the outcome on Marriage Equality that we got today.  Hooray!!!!!!!!

  21. It looks like Paul Donato stuck to his old vote, so Patrick McCabe gets a step forward.

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    In all cases, I think this was a huge victory for everyone. I’m proud of Governor Patrick and Representative Eldridge’s leadership on making sure we killed this amendment decisively and eithour any doubt. Kudos to Terry Murray and Sal DiMasi too, and of course the efforts of MassEquality. Congratualtions everyone!

    • I have a student who’s attending Brandeis in the fall, majoring in political science and international relations.  Is there a way I can get his name & info to you so that he connect with like-minded people when he gets there? 

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