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Mass. High Court Rules for Gay Marriage
Associated Press Writer ^
| Wed, Feb 04, 2004
| JENNIFER PETER
Posted on 02/04/2004 8:24:28 AM PST by presidio9
BOSTON - The Massachusetts high court ruled Tuesday that only full, equal marriage rights for gay couples rather than civil unions would meet the edict of its November decision, erasing any doubts that the nation's first same-sex marriages would take place in the state beginning in mid-May.
AP Photo Slideshow: Same-Sex Marriage Issues
The court issued the opinion in response to a request from the state Senate about whether Vermont-style civil unions, which conveyed the benefits but not the title of marriage would meet constitutional muster.
The much-anticipated opinion sets the stage for next Wednesday's Constitutional Convention, where the Legislature will consider an amendment that would legally define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. Without the opinion, Senate President Robert Travaglini had said the vote would be delayed.
The Supreme Judicial Court ruled in November that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, and gave the Legislature six months to change state laws to make it happen.
But almost immediately, the vague wording of the ruling left lawmakers and advocates on both side of the issue uncertain if Vermont-style civil unions would satisfy the court's decision.
The state Senate asked for more guidance from the court and sought the advisory opinion, which was made public Wednesday morning when it was read into the Senate record.
TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Massachusetts
KEYWORDS: aids; antifamily; antimarriage; blackrobetyrants; blueoyster; civilization; cultureofdeath; culturewar; gaymarriage; godsjudgement; goodridge; homosexualagenda; intolerantgays; jenniferpeterha; legalizebuttsex; marriage; prisoners; protectmarriage; queer; romans1; samesexunions; sodomites; sodomy; tyranyofthejudiciary
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To: Hemingway's Ghost
I think there is an opportunity here for gay marriage planners, gay bridal books, gay wedding venues, gay wedding clothing, etc. Can't you just see it?
161
posted on
02/04/2004 9:39:32 AM PST
by
cajungirl
(John Kerry has no botox and I have a bridge to sell you!)
To: I_love_weather
Human rights?
No, Degenerate rights.
This is indefensible and wrong.
162
posted on
02/04/2004 9:39:58 AM PST
by
Leatherneck_MT
(Good night Chesty, wherever you may be.)
To: presidio9
They can go to H-E-double hockey sticks.
To: kennedy
"Every man has an equal right to marry a woman. Every woman has an equal right to marry a man. No man has a right to marry another man. No woman has a right to marry another woman. That is where the equal rights analysis should end."
Of course, a few decades ago, the argument was as follows:
"Every white man has an equal right to marry a white woman. Every black man has an equal right to marry a black woman. No white man has a right to marry a black woman. No black woman has a right to marry a white man. That is where the equal rights analysis should end."
After all, marriage has had only ONE definition throughout the millenia [as I believe another poster said], and has NEVER changed, and has been viewed equally in all societies and all cultures, right? (Quick question: if marriage has never changed, are wives still the property of the husband? As a bachelor, I'm not up to date with the current legal details in that area.)
164
posted on
02/04/2004 9:41:34 AM PST
by
jde1953
To: PSYCHO-FREEP
Not in Massachusetts anyway..... And their Senator is running for President .. Good Grief
165
posted on
02/04/2004 9:41:34 AM PST
by
Mo1
(Join the dollar a day crowd now!)
To: VRW Conspirator
Did I miss something here. Should it be that the state Senate advises the courts and not the other way around? Yes, in a constitutional republic, that's how it works. But Massachussets is a Judiciocracy. And if Kerry wins, the whole country will become one.
As much as I despise Bush's spending record, I guess I'm going to have get up and vote for him.
Why is it ever a contest between the lesser of two evils?
166
posted on
02/04/2004 9:42:22 AM PST
by
Publius Maximus
(Compassionate Conservatism: Profligate Liberal Spending With A Conservative Rhetorical Twist)
To: muawiyah
Bush is about to get millions in donations for his reelection now, no doubt. Just think of what we could pick up in the Senate with this fetish law. Normal people will be running to the polls to vote right wing.
This could end the Democrat party as we know it. That would be an acceptable Divine retribution.
I feel sorry for those who'll have to live in Massachusetts now, especially if they have children. Homosexuals will be like cock roaches (pun intended).
To: ladtx
The slope just became a little more slippery.It's gone vertical.
168
posted on
02/04/2004 9:42:51 AM PST
by
Professional Engineer
(Spirit/Opportunity~0.002acres of sovereign US territory~All Your Mars Are Belong To USA)
To: cajungirl
For crying out loud, when are you self styled self important base people going to start acting like adults and not kids running around threatening to take your ball home when you don't call each and every shot. hehe...good one.
169
posted on
02/04/2004 9:43:31 AM PST
by
Smogger
To: tomahawk
tomahawk:
"I'm prepared to give him time. But the longer he takes, the more the base loses its trust."
He better get moving. He's got a GOP Congress and he's doing NOTHING that we want.Instead, we get:
400 billion perscription/welfare bill
Trying to make illegal aliens (aka felons) citizens
NOTHING on gay "marriage"
NOTHING to make the government smaller
HUGE deficits
SCREWING our vets
And on ad on and on.
He should tell the 'rats to sit down and shut up. He should tell the gays to get back into the closet. He should tell the blacks to get into college with your grades, not your skin color. Tax cuts got us out of the Clinton recession, so we're he should cut taxes AGAIN. 'Rats don't like it? Too d**n bad.
We're in charge here, not the "peace and flowers" crowd. It's time to act!!!
Comment #171 Removed by Moderator
To: Mo1
This issue will become a major point in the election. Kerrenedy is for it of course. Let's laugh when he tries to backpedal to catch both the extreme left and the moderate Dems! It will be great entertainment!
172
posted on
02/04/2004 9:45:43 AM PST
by
PSYCHO-FREEP
(Careful! Your TAGS are the mirror of your SOUL!)
To: jde1953; Admin Moderator
After all, marriage has had only ONE definition throughout the millenia [as I believe another poster said], and has NEVER changed, and has been viewed equally in all societies and all cultures, right? (Quick question: if marriage has never changed, are wives still the property of the husband? As a bachelor, I'm not up to date with the current legal details in that area.) Welcome to FR. Have you enjoyed your couple of days here?
Your analogy makes some sense of course, until one considers that all marriages up until now have had one thing in common. This new ruling disregards that one thing...
173
posted on
02/04/2004 9:46:02 AM PST
by
presidio9
(Protectionists Treat The Symptoms And Ignore The Disease)
To: Diddle E. Squat; I_love_weather
In the culture war, the gay lobby and judicial activists have just decided to lead the French army into Russia, and winter is approaching...Bravo ! Well said.
174
posted on
02/04/2004 9:46:18 AM PST
by
happygrl
(We are Dar al-Harb* — and proud of it.)
To: cajungirl
To: BlackElk
Make this the central wedge issue of the 2004 elections and it will be [...] the landslide destruction of Kerry who will spend the entire campaign tripping over his feet defending lavender canoodling to Democrats of modest means who go to church. I can't wait.
To: PSYCHO-FREEP
It will be great entertainment! Considering the far left can't stand Kerry .. I'm sure it will be
Don't forget the popcorn :^)
177
posted on
02/04/2004 9:49:23 AM PST
by
Mo1
(Join the dollar a day crowd now!)
To: Hemingway's Ghost
Oh Puke. The place will have the oder of sewer. Ack!
To: USCG-RET
I am not quite sure where you get your news on what President Bush is doing, but it certainly not from this planet!
"Trying to make illegal aliens citizens" - citizens? No. You have the Prseidents plan confused with the Dems. They have 'earned amnesty'. Pres. Bush's plan makes them go home to apply.
"Screwing our vets"- That is just a HUGE load of horsedung. Explain yourself, man!
To: cajungirl
I echo your sentiments. Don't these people realize that portions of America will never give in to this. You can bet, if this bit of evil spreads to more states, that the American South will be the last hold out of a true America. And it will be villified. I just pray that the people will still fight.
180
posted on
02/04/2004 9:53:47 AM PST
by
ohioman
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