Massachusetts lawmakers advance measure to place proposed gay marriage ban on 2008 ballot

BOSTON (AP) _ Gay marriage in Massachusetts, the only state to recognize same-sex marriage, is moving closer to becoming a ballot issue in the 2008 election. <br/><br/>State lawmakers voted Tuesday to

Wednesday, January 3rd 2007, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

BOSTON (AP) _ Gay marriage in Massachusetts, the only state to recognize same-sex marriage, is moving closer to becoming a ballot issue in the 2008 election.

State lawmakers voted Tuesday to advance a proposed constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union between a man and woman.

The measure still needs approval of the next legislative session before it can get on the ballot. Supporters and opponents of gay marriage vowed to step up their campaigns in the meantime.

``There are thousands and thousands of supporters who are committed to ensuring that the rights of a few are never put to a public popularity ballot,'' said Marc Solomon, campaign director for MassEquality.

Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which backs the amendment, hailed Tuesday's vote.

``This is democracy in action. It's not a vengeance campaign. It's not a hate campaign. It's just an opportunity for the people to vote,'' he said.

Gov. Mitt Romney, a vocal opponent of gay marriage and possible candidate for the GOP 2008 presidential nomination, called the vote an important step on the path to the ballot box.

``This is a huge victory for the people of Massachusetts,'' Romney said in a statement.

House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi, D-Boston, said the amendment discriminates against gay citizens and vowed to work with Gov.-elect Deval Patrick to defeat it.

``This initiative petition is offensive and deplorable,'' he said.

After the vote, Patrick issued a written statement saying he was disappointed.

``We have never used the initiative petition to limit individual freedoms and personal privacy, but today's vote was a regrettable step in that direction,'' he said.

Rep. Philip Travis, a Democratic supporter of the amendment, said lawmakers upheld their duty to respond to a petition calling for a statewide vote on the issue.

``We're a nation of laws and we've proved that,'' he said.

Supporters of the amendment collected certified signatures from more than 120,000 people in an effort to get the question on the ballot.

The amendment needs to be approved by 50 members of the current Legislature and 50 members of the new Legislature before going to voters on the 2008 ballot. Tuesday's vote fulfills the first part of that process.

Supporters of gay marriage say the tide is in their favor.

Seventeen lawmakers who voted Tuesday won't be returning in the new legislative session, including some of the most vocal opponents of same-sex marriage. Gay marriage supporters say they will pick up a total of seven votes to block the proposed amendment in the new session, according to Solomon.

Since the marriages began in 2004, more than 8,000 same-sex couples have wed in Massachusetts, the only state to allow gay marriage.