151

We have won. After over 5 years of waiting and hoping and lots of holding of breath we have won. The latest attack on the right to marry for same-sex couples has been killed by the legislature in an up-and-down vote of the matter. No procedural maneuvers this time, not that I'd care if there were.

I don't doubt that anti-gay groups will still try attack gay marriage in Massachusetts but they will find that we are a stronger and more renewed group after today. We've seen the future and it involves continued full rights to gay marriage.

Here's a brief history of things. (A more complete history can be found here)

July 17, 2002 - First voter petition is killed in a procedural maneuver to adjourn the ConCon. 137-53

November 17, 2003 - The MA Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) allows Gay Marriage. Delays effect of ruling 180 days.

March 29, 2004 - the Legislature passes the legislatively initiated anti-gay marriage amendment.

May 17, 2004 - Gay Marriage is now legal. World doesn't end.

May 17, 2005 - First anniversary of Gay Marriage. World still hasn't ended.

September 14, 2005 - the Legislature kills the legislatively initiated anti-gay marriage amendment 157-39. This is mostly because a more conservative and restrictive version is being submitted via voter petition.

December 7, 2005 - the voter petition is certified to be voted at the next ConCon.

May 17, 2006 - Second anniversary of Gay Marriage. Still no apocalypse.

January 2, 2007 - The legislature finally votes on, and passes the voter petition 61-132. Not happy.

May 17, 2007 - Third anniversary of Gay Marriage. Are the four horsemen usually this tardy?

June 14, 2007 - 45-151. 151 Legislators vote against the amendment. It's over.

For more information here are blog posts from the years:

11.18.2003 - I do....
04.12.2004 - Cheney's Opinion Sucks
01.13.2004 - Delays, delays, delays….
02.04.2004 - Hurrah!! Hurrah!!
02.16.2004 - Marriage, Valentine's Day and other matters
03.29.2004 - Strike 1
09.07.2005 - Fuck the world
09.15.2005 - Well the world gets a repreive
09.20.2005 - "... it's going to be a fun time..."
07.11.2006 - And the fight continues...
09.09.2006 - Do I Dare to Dream?
01.02.2007 - Dissappointed