Massachusetts likely to keep gay marriage
Reuters:
BOSTON — Opponents of same-sex marriage face near-certain defeat in their bid to overturn a ruling in Massachusetts allowing gays and lesbians to wed, a result that could influence debate on the hotly contested issue across the country.
Just over a year after Massachusetts became the first U.S. state to allow gay couples to marry, political support is fading for a state constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage and allow only same-sex civil unions.
Massachusetts lawmakers vote on the proposal on September 14 in a constitutional convention. Approval would pave the way for a final hurdle — a state referendum on the amendment in 2006. But a senior lawmaker expressed doubts it would get that far.
House Speaker Salvatore F. DiMasi said rejection was likely.
“At this point he thinks the way it looks now, the amendment will not proceed any further,” said DiMasi spokeswoman Kim Haberlin.
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