Death in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts lawmakers moved a step closer to ending same-sex marriage in that state—the only one in America that has it—when they (reluctantly) approved a measure to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2008 ballot. If the measure passes another test in the new legislative session and is then approved by voters, it would ban all future same-sex marriages, while leaving those already married alone.

A spokesperson for an anti-marriage far right group told the AP:

This is democracy in action. It's not a vengeance campaign. It's not a hate campaign. It's just an opportunity for the people to vote.

Well, actually, that's wrong. It’s not about democracy, it’s about imposing particular religious views on everyone else. It is about vengeance and it is about hate. They only want a “vote” because they’re sure they can lie, manipulate and cheat their way to victory. Again.

No state has yet rejected such a constitutional amendment, though in 2006 Arizona voters rejected a narrower ballot measure. Considering the unlimited millions of dollars that the far right has to throw at Massachusetts along with their proven campaigns sowing hate and fear, it’s by no means certain that marriage justice will survive in Massachusetts. Ending the only legal same-sex marriage in the US would have to be at the top of their agenda.

Much will depend on who the presidential candidates are in 2008, because they may bring out supporters or opponents of the amendment. All of this assumes it will end up on the ballot. That’s not certain, either, but probably likely.

At this point it looks like any same-sex couples wanting to get married in Massachusetts should do so as soon as possible—while they still can. Democracy and justice, it seems, can wither and die as fast as wedding flowers.