Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) celebrated the effective end of an effort to reverse marriage equality in Massachusetts.

The Legislature’s vote today to recess the Constitutional Convention until January 2, 2007 signaled the demise of an anti-gay citizen petition.  The petition sought to put before voters a question about amending the Commonwealth’s constitution to ban marriages between same-sex couples.

“Today is a great day,” said Lee Swislow, Executive Director of GLAD.  “The Legislature recognized that it is deeply, morally wrong to put the basic rights of any group of citizens to a popular vote.  They courageously stood with gay and lesbian citizens and refused be bullied by simplistic slogans and national right-wing groups.

“We deeply appreciate their commitment to full equality for everyone in our state.”

In November 2003, GLAD won Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which ended marriage discrimination against the state’s same-sex couples.  Since May 2004, over 8500 same-sex couples have married in the state, while various attempts have been made to reverse the historic decision.

Swislow added, “As we’ve seen in the past two and half years marriage equality is good – for families, communities, and the state. We applaud the state’s voters, who embraced common sense and decency in supporting their gay & lesbian neighbors.  And we salute the entire coalition of organizations who fought this battle, especially MassEquality, the Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Political Caucus, and the ACLU.”

Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders is New England’s leading legal rights organization dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and HIV status. GLAD is active in all six New England states.

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