Gay marriage ban blocked in Massachusetts

'Being gay is like being left-handed'
Jean Chandler, 62, of Cambridge, came with fellow members of her Baptist church in an effort to rebuff the image that strict followers of the Bible are opposed to gay marriage.

"I think being gay is like being left-handed," Chandler said. "If we decided left-handed people couldn't marry, what kind of society would we be?"

The measure needed 50 votes in two consecutive legislative sessions to advance to the ballot, and it had passed with 62 votes at the end of the last session in January.

On Thursday, in contrast to previous joint sessions, there was no debate. Senate President Therese Murray opened the constitutional convention by calling for a vote, and the session was gaveled to a close immediately afterward.

It was a victory for the state's Democratic leadership, including Patrick, a vocal supporter of gay marriage.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, a Democrat from Boston, also worked on lawmakers to get them to oppose the measure, arguing that the rights of a minority group should not be put to a popular vote. Before the session, a handful of lawmakers who had voted in favor of the amendment previously said they were reconsidering their vote.

One lawmakers who previously voted in favor of the amendment, Democratic Rep. Anthony Verga of Gloucester, missed the joint session after injuring himself in a fall the day before.

Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute that backed the amendment, said his group was vastly outspent by gay marriage supporters. "It certainly does appear that money speaks in this building," he said.

Mineau pledged to continue fighting but wouldn't commit to presenting another proposed amendment.

"I don't believe it's dead because the people have not had the opportunity to have their vote," he said. "This will not go away until the citizens have their opportunity to decide what the definition of marriage is."

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