Tuesday, April 06, 2004

Fight Brewin': A poll of Massachusetts residents found that less than a majority, 47 percent, back the proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban same-sex marriage while keeping civil unions legal. Another 47 percent oppose the amendment, meaning there's going to be a big fight for the remaining undecideds.

In the liberal state, people didn't seem to oppose the amendment on grounds that it gave too many rights to gays and lesbians, but rather that it gave too little. The poll showed that 40 percent support gay marriage while 28 percent wanted to ban gay marriage but support civil unions. That's 68 percent of the state supporting at least some legal recognition of gay couples.

Only 17 percent of those surveyed wanted to ban gay marriage and civil unions.

The state's Supreme Judicial Court has already ruled that gays have a legal right to marriage under the current state constitution. If this compromise amendment doesn't pass, then gays will end up being better off.

Either way, the country will soon learn that there's nothing to worry about when it comes to gay marriage.