A glorious victory

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).

Check out this link on the MassEquality site for results as soon as they are available.

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I plan to send thank-you notes to everyone who voted the right way, and I will personally thank the Governor for his efforts.

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My earlier comments are here.

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

http://www.mass.gov/…

all his leadership on this issue. 🙂

KrisMineau.com

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BrianCamenker.com

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mmmmmmmm

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🙂

…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.

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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Senate roll call is now up at http://www.massequal…

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Awaiting House roll call.

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!! 

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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

…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!!!

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…

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

here are a few screen shote of the web feed from my computer, and my senate tally.

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! 

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!