Mass. High Court Rules for Gay Marriage

Associated Press Writer ^ | Wed, Feb 04, 2004 | JENNIFER PETER

[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.

[Modernman]

That is so damned sad that your "support" is merely from those capable of arousing sympathetic sadness and compassion for your idiotic posts.

I'm not really sure what this statement is talking about. I wish you would be more clear as to who/what you're talking about.

[FUMETTI]

Modernloser: "A troll?"

Yes.

"What makes you say that?"

How can I "say" that? I am online.

"I'm far from the only FReeper who thinks that gay marriage may not be the end of the world as we know it."

It is not "the end of the world'" that minimizes public concerns, which is pretty insulting...thus, that is typical of trolling. This is about restructuring society, where the family is the center of American life. Further erosion of society is intolerable.

For what it's worth, I'm not in favor of gay marriage, but I am not all that worried about it.

[FUMETTI]

ModernLush: "I'm not really sure what this statement is talking about."

Are you then, extremely unsure, or merely a tad unsure? I like confidence levels measured in more concrete terminonology, thank you. LOL

ModernCretin: "I wish you would be more clear as to who/what you're talking about."

I also wish that you would jump from the highest building near you, headfirst. But we all can wish, can't we?

[FUMETTI]

Modernsickness: "You seem like a very angry man."

No, I am a man who has accomplished much in my life. I am proud of my life and CV. I have beaten the odds and have been a survivor.

"I'm guessing life has been hard on you."

Was life easy for you? Were you pampered by mommy and daddy?

"I feel kind of sorry for you."

I am the one who feels sorry for you. I assume you are very sedated from all the meds you must be taking daily.

[Modernman]

I went to SUNY Geneseo; class of 1990. Great grades, and had a great time.

Not a bad little cow school, I suppose.

Cambridge? I doubt it; you do not have the acumen and wit which is a trademark of such an education.

You, talking about lack of acumen and wit? Heh. Something about a pot and a kettle comes to mind.

English schools never impressed me.

Well, I guess you have to go to one to appreciate them, but since you didn't....

I am sure you will try to say something clever to underscore my situation.

You're the cheap-shot artist. Unlike you, I would never insult another man's family.

[FUMETTI]

ModernScum: "You really do fixate on the strangest things."

Not a fixation. It is an observation.

ob·ser·va·tion
(bzr-vshn)
n. The act or faculty of observing.
The fact of being observed.
The act of noting and recording something, such as a phenomenon, with instruments.
The result or record of such notation: a meteorological observation.
A comment or remark. See Synonyms at comment.
An inference or a judgment that is acquired from or based on observing.

Now, are you tired of me correcting you post after post? LOL!

[Modernman]

How can I "say" that? I am online.

Sigh. Okay, for the overly literal-minded: "What makes you write that?"

This is about restructuring society, where the family is the center of American life.

If gays get the right to marry, how will that in any way restructure the family? Seems like gay marriage will affect, at most, 1-2% of the American population. The rest of us can go on with our lives the same as before.

[Modernman]

I also wish that you would jump from the highest building near you, headfirst. But we all can wish, can't we?

Is this really the best you can do? How sad.

[FUMETTI]

ModernAlky: "Not a bad little cow school, I suppose."

ROTFL! You can call Notre Dame that as well. You can call the University of Pennsylvania "not a little bad ghetto school."

ModernBoor: "You, talking about lack of acumen and wit? Heh. Something about a pot and a kettle comes to mind."

Again with the heh? Do you have OCD or a facial tic?

ModernIdiot: "Well, I guess you have to go to one to appreciate them, but since you didn't...."

No, one does not have to wallow in the dirt in order to enjoy a pig on a farm.

"You're the cheap-shot artist. Unlike you, I would never insult another man's family."

You are the one who is trying to Out-retort me and are getting shriller and shriller by the minute. Another man's family? You do personal attacks, but only at the poster. How genuinely considerate of you? Listen you bastard, you could have walked away but you chose not to. You wanted to make this a flame war, and your childish wish came true. Now you have a choice to walk away, and I will walk away, or if you want to continue this, I will when time permits on my schedule. Now sit on that for a while before you type away and hit the "post" button.

[FUMETTI]

ModernDunce: "Is this really the best you can do? How sad."

I never said it was the best I could do; please cut and paste where I asserted that braggadocio. Why waste my more rapier wit on a total dunce like yourself? That is where the truth lies.

[Modernman]

No, I am a man who has accomplished much in my life. I am proud of my life and CV. I have beaten the odds and have been a survivor.

Well, good for you. You want a medal or something?

Was life easy for you?

Pretty easy. Academics came natrually, with little effort. I was pretty good at sports. Good success with members of the opposite sex. Six figure a year job at age 25. Good run of luck last time I was in Vegas. Can't really complain. Thanks for asking.

[Modernman]

No, one does not have to wallow in the dirt in order to enjoy a pig on a farm.

I thought we weren't going to talk about your sexual habits.

ROTFL! You can call Notre Dame that as well. You can call the University of Pennsylvania "not a little bad ghetto school."

That wouldn't be legit, because those are actually good schools.

You do personal attacks, but only at the poster. How genuinely considerate of you?

Sure. Because the poster is the only person who can reply to me. I could insult your sister (as you have done with me) or other familky members, but I don't consider that fair, since they're not here to defend themselves.

You wanted to make this a flame war

I never had any interest in doing so. You are the one who started throwing out names and insulting me and my family. Now you're just projecting.

Now you have a choice to walk away, and I will walk away,

You have the same choice. Feel free to stop posting at any time.

[FUMETTI]

"Sigh. Okay, for the overly literal-minded: "What makes you write that?"

Are you speaking a "motivation" now?

"If gays get the right to marry, how will that in any way restructure the family?"

It brings acceptance to a faux-relationship, an implausible kind of legalized "acceptance" of a lifestyle many find offensive as well as sinful. This goes against American religious tradition, American history, American society and our ideal of the nuclear family. There is no such thing as "gay marriage." It is not marriage. It is playacting, just like 5 year old boys and girls play at recess. It is an illegitimate way to force a lifestyle on the same EXACT terms as a cornerstone of heterosexual life.

"Seems like gay marriage will affect, at most, 1-2% of the American population. The rest of us can go on with our lives the same as before."

No, because that 1 percent (gays claim up to 10 percent, but who cares?) because then benefits will be allocated to these "gay" couples, using up all kinds of money and dues to go into a concocted kind of legal relationship. The fraud from this will be enormous. Straight same sex roommates can and will assert they are "gay" to get medical benefits and other bennies previously allocated to married heterosexuals. Then the indoctrinization of this lifestyle into the minds of vulnerable children, who have enough thrown at them these days. Your minimization of this issue is pathetic.

[Modernman]

It brings acceptance to a faux-relationship,

It does no such thing. Simply making something legal does not imply acceptance. Being an alcoholic is perfectly legal, that does not mean society accepts it.

[FUMETTI]

ModernIdiot: "I thought we weren't going to talk about your sexual habits."

Now you are babbling terribly. LOL! Sorry to report that to you, kid.

"That wouldn't be legit, because those are actually good schools."

My school is a good school. Why would I take a judgement from trash such as yourself? You are in the minority in that opinion. Now, go on your way!

"Sure."

No, not sure at all.

"Because the poster is the only person who can reply to me. I could insult your sister (as you have done with me) or other familky members, but I don't consider that fair, since they're not here to defend themselves."

You are an ass. Then we should also then stop attacking Bush, Cheney, Sean Penn, Madonna, Justin Timberlake. Your rationale is stupid. If you want to get into the gutter, boy, be prepared for any muck thrown your way. "Sure."

"I never had any interest in doing so."

Okay. *LOL*

"You are the one who started throwing out names and insulting me and my family. Now you're just projecting."

Ah, another tactic of idiots and liberals. Call an insult "projecting." Your big bad Cambridge education apparently did you no good, fifi.

"You have the same choice. Feel free to stop posting at any time."

You bet. Let's see if you have the gumption.

[FUMETTI]

"It does no such thing. Simply making something legal does not imply acceptance. Being an alcoholic is perfectly legal, that does not mean society accepts it."

Alcoholism is a disease, a medical disease. A disease where people get treated. If an alcoholic is given special privledges (more bar time, more money to pay for their habit), it would be on the same par as homosexuality.

[FUMETTI]

Moderass: "Well, good for you. You want a medal or something?"

No, my reward is living well. :)

[FUMETTI]

"I'm not sure I know anyone with body piercings, other than some women who have pierced belly-buttons."

You are not too sure of too many things, you know?

"Again, a strange thing to be fixated on. What's the relevance of the body-piercing status of the people I hang out with?"

Ah, another misuse of the word "fixation" with "observation."

This is called a "juxtaposition."

[Modernman]

My school is a good school.

Keep saying that to yourself. Whatever makes you feel better.

You are an ass. Then we should also then stop attacking Bush, Cheney, Sean Penn, Madonna, Justin Timberlake.

They're public figures who open themselves up for scrutiny by the nature of their careers. A poster's family members in no way fall into that category. How does insulting someone's family add anything to the discussion? Seems like you're the one who revels in disrupting the discussion and kicking it into the gutter.

[Modernman]

If an alcoholic is given special privledges (more bar time, more money to pay for their habit), it would be on the same par as homosexuality.

Name a single special right homosexuals have.