Posted on 07/31/2008 1:57:54 PM PDT by mngran2
Surrounded by cheering, clapping gay-rights activists and legislators, Governor Deval Patrick today signed a bill repealing a 95-year-old statute that had prevented gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying in Massachusetts.
"It's a good day," said Patrick, declaring that the repeal will "confirm a simple truth: that is, in Massachusetts, equal means equal."
Massachusetts will "continue to lead the way as a national leader" and affirm "all people come before their government as equals," Patrick said in a bill-signing ceremony at the State House's Grand Staircase. Gay marriage "is still troubling for some of our citizens," he said, "but it is still the law."
Patrick, who turned 52 today, also called the bill "a great birthday present."
Marc Solomon, executive director of MassEquality, a gay-rights organization, said, "This is really a new day. We welcome everyone from New York to come here and get married. We think it's a shame people can't get married in their own states."
The repeal took effect immediately, making Massachusetts the second state after California to allow same-sex couples to marry, regardless of residence. It opened the borders for potentially thousands of nonresident same-sex couples. That includes an estimated 49,000 couples from New York, where Governor David Paterson has instructed state agencies to recognize and grant benefits to gay couples who marry elsewhere, even though the Empire State does not authorize same-sex marriages.
...
Unlike past same-sex marriage debates, the repeal of the 1913 law did not draw protesters to the State House. Advocates cited the absence of demonstrations as a sign that same-sex marriage has become an accepted fact of life in Massachusetts, after lawmakers in a joint session last year rejected a proposed constitutional amendment to limit marriage to heterosexual couples.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
so if a gay guy goes around in the office stating his preference for having sex with men he cannot be fired or it is discrimination but if I go around the office and state my preference for having sex with women I will be fired for harrassment
Pay attention people, deval is a barack clone, what you see is what you’ll get with barack,,,,google Deval Patrick,,,he’s a freakin’ useless gov, useless to the enth degree,,,,,,,,we can protest all we want, it falls on deaf ears, the legislature and the senate are all dominated by libs,,,,the people of GAYsachusetts have no say in what goes on around here,,,,LIBS rule..........
MA is a liberal trainwreck.
Yep! AND gays have taken over rest stops here in MA, the rest stops are strictly for gay sex, if you have to make a stop, DO NOT stop at a rest stop here in MA......
Well, only if you are a man, if you are a woman, no problem.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
now that gays aren’t allowed to be priests, expect more backlash against the Church.
That's putting it mildly........
But those are the people who voted for these lawmakers. Loks like they got what they asked for.
Sounds like a real money-maker. Too bad Patrick didn’t get permission to set up slot machines too. Then Mass could have rivaled Vegas for the great marryin’ shakedown. What happens in gaystate, stays in gaystate (or at least the loot). Maybe I should see if I can find that Elvis costume in the attic. ;-)
/sarc
I’m surprised that the religious community hasn’t tried taking back the sacrament of holy matrimony from the state since the state has descrated it so.
Separation of State and Church?
And why don't you stay there?
Typical Boston Globe crap.
The 1913 law merely stated that those whose marriages would not be recognized by the home state could not legally marry in Massachusetts.
The gay/lesbian aspect is something raised only in the last couple of years due to the morally bankrupt climate in the state capitals around the nation.
Yes, the law prevented gays and lesbians from marrying here but it wasn't written specifically for that purpose.
Romney didn’t sign this bill, AND it was the court who forced gay marriage down our throats not Romney
Wrong on both counts.
I've never voted for a Democrat and most certainly did not ask for this.
Sex acts on Provincetown beaches prompt outrage
By Katy Jordan | Monday, July 7, 2008
Boston Herald
Frisky sun worshipers are flocking to have sex on the beach in Provincetown - but are sending horrified family vacationers packing, officials said.
Angry Cape Cod National Seashore officials said they are cracking down on public sex acts along the picturesque shoreline after the number of citations for public sex acts more than tripled, from an average of 40 to 132 last year. "This is not what we're interested in seeing," said George Price, Superintendent of the National Seashore. "Over the last couple of years, public (sex) acts like this have been viewed by visitors."
Price said officials are baffled as to why the vacation mecca has suddenly become a hotbed of public sex for randy exhibitionists. "Laws and enforcement have not changed - it just seems to be something that some people decided we want to see," Price said.
Complaints have included whale-watchers sailing past large groups of nude men, and families stumbling upon people engaged in sex acts on the pristine national shore that attracts tens of thousands of vacationers from throughout the world each year.
One complaint, issued in 2007, was from a New Jersey family walking in the dunes who encountered couples and a large group of men having "sex in the nude, including oral and anal sex right out in the open," the Cape Cod Times reported last week.
Price said officials are baffled as to why the vacation mecca has suddenly become a hotbed of public sex for randy exhibitionists.
yes what could it be that changed in MA to cause more gay activity?
Luckily I’m NOWHERE near provincetown.....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.