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August 19, 2008

Gay-Marriage Opponents Seek to Reinstate 1913 Mass. Law

Gay-Marriage Opponents Seek to Reinstate 1913 Mass. Law

The gay marriage fight in Massachusetts might not be over after all. Opponents of same-sex marriages are seeking a ballot question that would prevent gay and lesbian couples from getting married in the state if their union wouldn't be legal in their home state.

Brian Camenker of the group Mass Resistance said Friday that lawmakers and Gov. Deval Patrick bowed to the will of the "gay lobby" last month by approving the repeal of a 1913 statute that banned such marriages.

Patrick, the state's first black governor and the father of a daughter who recently announced she's a lesbian, said the 1913 law had racial undertones from a period when interracial marriage was discouraged.

"The legislature and the governor changed our marriage laws to please the well-connected minority and force a social experiment into other states that's very offensive to a majority of the people, at least the way the votes have been going," Camenker said, referring to recent votes in favor of gay marriage bans in other states.

He was particularly critical of an emergency preamble attached to the repeal. It bypassed a normal 90-day waiting period and made the law effective immediately. Opponents typically use the 90 days to present signatures and delay the law until it can be put to a ballot vote.

"The fact that this happened the way it happened just adds to the sense of sleaziness and underhandedness of the whole process," Camenker said.

The group will need about 32,000 signatures to get its question on the ballot.

Gay marriage advocates who had celebrated the repeal said they were disappointed but not surprised by the petition.

"I've learned that when it comes to equality for gay and lesbian people, the struggle is never over because there are certain people that are just strongly opposed to any rights for gay people. It's never shocking; it is disappointing," said Marc Solomon of MassEquality.

Gay Massachusetts residents have been allowed to legally marry since 2004. Opponents, such as former governor Mitt Romney, said the 1913 law prevented Massachusetts from becoming the "Las Vegas of same-sex marriage." California also permits same-sex marriage and has no restriction on out-of-state couples.

Mass Resistance filed paperwork with the secretary of state's office on Wednesday. The measure has been forwarded to the attorney general's office for review.

The state constitution prohibits referendum questions on subjects that relate to religion, judges, the courts, particular localities of the commonwealth, state appropriations, and certain provisions of the constitution's Declaration of Rights. State attorney general Martha Coakley has 14 days to review the proposed question. (Glen Johnson, AP)

Keywords:  marriage 
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Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

  • Name: Ginelle
    Date posted: 2008-08-19 11:33 AM
    Hometown: British Columbia, Canada

    Comment:

    It is so unfortunate that some of these groups or individuals are so obsessed with hatred towards the Gay and Lesbian Community that they will do anything to impede the progress of equal rights. Like a mad dog with a bone, they will do anything to ensure that their agendas are literally forced down everyone's throat without consideration at all for individual rights and freedoms. With their obsessive behaviours, they have lost their ability to be human, to reason in a sane and sensible manner. I don't believe that I could be far from wrong in thinking that with this extreme obsessiveness might lead to some mental health issues for some of these people. So do we continue to give these people a platform from which to spew their hatred and venom, or do we turn the cheek, as Jesus Christ did, and just ignore them. My take would be to just ignore them, how far can they go without an audience?


  • Name: NORMA
    Date posted: 2008-08-19 8:51 AM
    Hometown: NEW YORK

    Comment:

    I THINK THAT WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MARRY WHOM EVER WE CHOOSE AND BE TREATED EGUAL ITS NOT FAIR AT ALL HOW WE GET TREATED BECAUSE OF WHO WE LOVE. WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO EGUAL RIGHTS?


  • Name: michael
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 11:19 PM
    Hometown: boston

    Comment:

    Oh, this Brian Camenker is a real nut job. "MassResistance"... a fringe hate group with one member (Brian). Why is he getting any attention at all? Search for his appearance on The Daily Show (in 2005, I think). During the "interview", it was clear what a nut he is. He's absolutely obsessed about homosexuals.


  • Name: Art M.
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 8:59 PM
    Hometown: SF, CA, USA

    Comment:

    j.e.green wrote: "secure the White House with a DEMOCRATIC win" Uh - sorry to have to break this to you j.e., but Obama is NOT a fan of same-sex marriage, and has gone on record in an interview with the Chicago Daily Tribune, Obama said, "I'm a Christian. And so, although I try not to have my religious beliefs dominate or determine my political views on this issue, I do believe that tradition, and my religious beliefs say that marriage is something sanctified between a man and a woman." You might not want to hear that truth - but it's there. He's courted us - but then he's said things like that. He's ACTIVELY courting the religious right NOW! Wonder what he's telling them about how he'll treat gays?


  • Name: Roger Burr
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 4:57 PM
    Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

    Comment:

    I'm confident any attempt to re-instate the 1913 law will meet with failure. The law was intended as an anti-miscegenation measure; something no longer an issue in todays society. Those who are against same-sex marriage are trying to say that marriages not recognized as lawful in other states; should not be performed in Massachusetts. If that were the case, then ANY same-sex marriage performed in Massachusetts, even among their own residents, would not be permitted under the 1913 law, as such marriages are not universally recognized throughout the country. This antiquated law has been disposed of, and should stay that way!


  • Name: Don Charles
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 12:42 PM
    Hometown: Kansas City

    Comment:

    Well, people elected Democrats hoping to end the war in Iraq, but look what happened . . . several war funding bills passed with overwhelming Democratic support. And have you forgotten the broken promises of Bill Clinton vis a vis the military ban? Don't put our movement's success in the hands of ANY politician, Democrat or Republican! That's naive. It's up to the people in the streets to pressure power brokers for progressive change. That's the only way lasting change will happen.


  • Name: j.e. green author of MERGING WITH MONSTERS
    Date posted: 2008-08-18 11:11 AM
    Hometown: Denver, Colorado

    Comment:

    It's UGLY shenanigans like this that makes it MORE IMPORTANT than ever before that we unite our voices: secure the White House with a DEMOCRATIC win; defeat evil initiatives such as this one proposed in MA, and CA! Indeed, the STRUGGLE is never over! Peace Out!


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