Mass. governor
marches in pride parade, reiterates support for marriage
equality

Deval Patrick on Saturday became the first sitting Massachusetts governor to march in the Boston's gay pride parade, just days before state lawmakers were expected to vote on a ballot question that could ban same-sex marriage.

The Democrat, who walked with his daughter, Katherine, and Mayor Thomas Menino in the 37th annual parade, said he wanted to keep Massachusetts a state where same-sex couples could marry legally.

Patrick said the 2003 court decision that paved the way for same-sex marriage ''affirmed the principle that everyone comes before the court as equals.''

''That is an argument we need to make to representatives and senators this week,'' he said. ''What experience has taught us is that the sky hasn't opened up, families are still intact.''

In 2003 the Massachusetts supreme judicial court barred the state from denying marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But it also ruled last year that lawmakers must vote on the proposed ballot question instead of letting die without a vote, as some lawmakers advocated.

If the ballot question receives support from 50 of 200 state lawmakers at a constitutional convention scheduled for Thursday, it would be placed on the 2008 ballot. (AP)