mizarchivist

After weeks of painful uncertainty, the Massachusetts legislature took an historic vote today, defeating the anti-gay constitutional amendment 151 to 45.

MGLPC Co-chair Arline Issacson said "Courage won out over fear. Thousands of lesbian and gay married couples can rest more easily tonight. And thousands more can be assured that marriage equality will be there when they're ready to marry the person they love."

House Speaker Sal DiMasi, Senate President Terry Murray and Governor Deval Patrick deserve a huge Thank You! for their unswerving leadership in overcoming a solid voting block of 57 legislators who voted against marriage equality in the January 2nd Con-Con. And the 151 legislators who agreed that it's wrong to vote on other people's rights and took the historic vote to keep discrimination out of our state constitution all deserve our appreciation and Thanks!

In the end, the victory belongs to the LGBT community, their family and friends who tirelessly met with their legislators, wrote letters and emails and phoned countless times. The community responded as never before, creating the largest pro-marriage legislative majority ever in Massachusetts.

MGLPC thanks you for your work in this critically important battle to protect and preserve marriage equality in Massachusetts. When we asked for help, you gave it. This victory could not have been won without everyone's contribution.

It's been a very long and draining fight. We're relieved it's finally over.

MGLPC and the community can now dedicate more time working on the numerous other vital issues affecting our community. We'll take a long weekend - the first in a very long time - then we'll be right back in the legislature fighting for our elders, youth, veterans, victims of domestic violence and every other LGBT issue.

Thank You!

Arline Isaacson and Gary Daffin
MGLPC Co-Chairs