Massachusetts governor to march in pride parade

This weekend Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick will become the first sitting governor in state history to march in Boston's gay pride parade, reports The Boston Globe. His show of support comes on the eve of what could be the second and final legislative vote concerning whether to place a measure on the ballot that would amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage in the state.

Patrick, who marched in the last two Boston pride parades as a gubernatorial candidate, has staunchly opposed such an amendment. He also has spoken out against its placement on the ballot, which the state legislature is scheduled to vote on at a constitutional convention next week. Action on the measure could be postponed if its opponents do not have enough votes to defeat it.

Patrick was among the featured speakers Thursday night at an event sponsored by MassEquality, a LGBT marriage advocacy group. The governor expressed his belief that the freedom to marry is a basic human right.

"Even if you don't agree with us about the rightness of the question, smart political people have got to appreciate...if we don't put this question to rest at the [constitutional convention], this is all we will do for the next two years," Patrick said, according to The Boston Globe. "And there is an awful lot of other business important to you and everyone else here in the commonwealth--about strengthening this economy and our public schools and our health care system--that demands the attention of the folks on Beacon Hill." (The Advocate)