Our Massachusetts GLBT community has witnessed two milestones since the last time we observed the rites of GLBT Pride in Boston. First and most recently, the California Supreme Court has recognized marriage equality as a fundamental right. Massachusetts has been joined at the vanguard of liberty by the largest American state, big enough to be its own nation, which will be issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples starting next week. Of course, that right is subject to defeasance at the pleasure of the majority, who may have the opportunity to express themselves this November. But the second iconic event since Governor Deval Patrick made history by marching in our Boston parade last year gives reason for hope in California. On June 14, 2007, one year to the day before the 2008 parade, the Great and General Court of Massachusetts in constitutional convention assembled killed the anti-marriage amendment before it could ever reach the ballot.
Something quite remarkable happened between the 2003 decision in Goodridge v. Romney, and the decisive vote in constitutional convention last year. The conservative Almanac of American Politics says that a majority of the Massachusetts public, which was heavily exposed to the policy debate over same-sex marriage for nearly four years, came to support gay and lesbian marriage, and oppose the “one man/one woman” formula for discrimination in the constitution. The religious right unleashed the full might at their command and yet lost out to breathtaking GLBT community organizing throughout Massachusetts, lots of straight allies, and the passage of time.
My friend Tom Parry, an Angelino who leads the Harvard Gay and Lesbian Caucus and plans to marry his longtime partner Juan in August, says there is reason for optimism. He made the observation that California voters are disinclined to take away rights people already have. It’s very important that the California Supreme Court, following the lead of our own Supreme Judicial Court, honored the plain meaning of equality in interpreting that guarantee in its state constitution. Gays and lesbians from all over the country are free to marry in California, and will derive what are called “vested rights” under the federal constitution, while the ballot question is being debated. It’s only fair that the right was extended otherwise than by majoritarian whim, and must thus be affirmatively repealed by the electorate turning out for a Presidential General Election.
It’s fabulous-an occasion for dancing in the streets-that gay and lesbian Californians like Tom and Juan now have equal access to marriage, and can tie the knot legally this summer. As you reflect on Boston’s 38th Pride Day, be encouraged by our good prospects for keeping marriage equality in the Golden State, and find ways you can help the cause.
Happy GLBT Pride to all the GLBT folks out there, and thank you ever so much to our progressive straight allies and especially our friends at Blue Mass Group who have rivalled the glory of the nineteenth century abolitionists in your advocacy for freedom and equality in this state.
Pride Day June 14th/from the South End to City Hall Plaza
