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Congratulations are in order for State Representatives Betty Poirier and Jay Barrows, as well as former representatives Virginia Coppola and Phil Travis. At long last, these fine representatives have achieved their goal – they have helped give hatred and discrimination a possible foothold in our Constitution.
Thanks to the hard work and high moral fiber of these fine folks, and/or many others like them, the right of gay people to marry in this state is under attack. For perhaps the first time in our state’s long and glorious history, the civil rights of an entire group of people may be subjected to the whim of public opinion rather than the principles of law. After 62 of the 200 Massachusetts legislators voted to allow a citizen’s petition to move one step closer to the ballot two weeks ago, many erupted in celebration. One woman was so happy she tried to drop and kiss the feet of retiring legislator and anti-gay marriage leader Phil Travis. Maybe it’s me, but doesn’t it seem strange to so happily celebrate the possible loss of basic rights by an entire group of people based on nothing more than their choice of partner? Is this what we are about here in Massachusetts? For a time it appeared the Legislature would kill the petition by refusing to take a vote on it. However, gay marriage opponents including Governor and part-time Massachusetts resident Mitt Romney went to the State Supreme Court to try and force them to vote. The court did not actually order the legislators to act, but did rebuke them so strongly that many were intimidated into voting against adjournment. There is little doubt the decision by the Supreme Judicial Court was responsible for the question advancing to the next step. What is so ironic about that is this is the same court that established the right of gay marriage when the wishy-washy legislature failed to act. At that time, Governor Romney and his disciples of discrimination blasted the court and its members, calling them “activist judges” and accusing them of “legislating from the bench”. But gay marriage opponents had no problem asking that same court to “legislate from the bench” when it suited their prejudicial purposes. Their concerns over separation of the Judicial and Legislative branches of government disappeared when they needed the court to help them achieve their goal. The truth is the court got it right both times. It was right when it ruled gay marriage to be legal, and it was right when it told legislators to vote up or down on the petition. Travis, Coppola, Barrows and Poirier claim the right of citizens to vote trumps all. They claim “letting the people vote” is what they are all about in this matter. So why stop here? I wonder if all these good reps think the voters should have the right to cast a ballot on legislative pay raises? Do they all support a statewide vote on the legislature’s annual budget? Or do they think citizen votes should be limited to matters of hatred, discrimination and prejudice? Gay marriage has been the law here in Massachusetts for about three years now, and it has not harmed heterosexual marriage in the slightest. Over 8000 gay couples are currently married, raising their families, contributing to society, and enjoying the same rights as their straight counterparts. Government is supposed to protect its citizens without regard to race, creed, color, national origin or sexual preference. It is not supposed to oppress them, strip them of rights just to make the majority feel better about the choices they have made in life. Congratulations to our current and former representatives. You’ve made us all so proud. Source: townonline.com |
