Pro-gay candidates win in Massachusetts

It's official: All three pro-gay candidates for the Massachusetts legislature who were expected to win in the state's general election on Tuesday have taken their seats. Michael Moran, a Brighton Democrat, was the clear winner in the race for the 18th Suffolk seat in the state house of representatives. Linda Dorcena Forry, also a Democrat, cruised to an unchallenged victory in the 12th Suffolk house district. And in Pittsfield, Democrat Christopher N. Speranzo received more than twice as many votes as Republican Terry M. Kinnas in the race for the third Berkshire house seat. "In the race in Pittsfield, where a strong opponent of [marriage] equality faced off against a strong supporter, Democrat Chris Speranzo won overwhelmingly," said Marty Rouse, campaign director for MassEquality, a gay rights group that lobbied for all the pro-gay candidates. "Once again, voters rejected a divisive message and selected a candidate who stood unabashedly for full marriage equality." In the 18th Suffolk district, which includes Allston-Brighton and portions of Brookline, Moran garnered about 70% of the vote, based on unofficial results with all Boston precincts reporting. Moran replaces Rep. Brian P. Golden, a three-term Democrat who stepped down in December after Gov. Mitt Romney appointed him to the state telecommunications and energy commission. In the 12th Suffolk district, Dorcena Forry received almost 94% of the vote cast in a district that includes Boston's Mattapan neighborhood and portions of Milton, according to unofficial results, with all 14 Boston precincts reporting. Dorcena Forry, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, will take over the seat vacated when antigay house speaker Thomas M. Finneran retired in December to become leader of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council. The results were considered a big victory by state and national gay rights groups, who are expecting a close vote on a proposed state constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in favor of civil unions when it is considered by the legislature later this year.