Massachusetts: Anti-gay marriage constitutional amendment vote today

Two days after Arizona made history by rejecting a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships called Proposition 107 and Massachusetts made history by electing its first African American governor (Deval Patrick, the second elected African American governor in the history of the United States!) the issue of gay marriage in Massachusetts has an important day Thursday November 9. That is the day proponents have scheduled a vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the state of Massachusetts, which happens to be the only state where gay marriage is currently legal! Because of the specific rules of how their state constitution can be amended, the proponents only need to get 50 votes out of a joint legislative session of 200 members, in two consecutive legislative years.

Happily, Governor-elect Patrick and Attorney General-elect Martha Coakley are both open supporters of full marriage equality for same-sex couples, and Tuesday's elections brought more marriage equality supporters into the Massachusetts legislature. But Thursday's vote is being cast by lame-duck members.

Keep your fingers crossed!