5 Years Later, Gay Marriage Debate Fades in Massachusetts

One of the reasons why the extreme Christianists are so strident as marriage equality is spreading - other than, of course, the fact that it's a cash cow for the fundies' bogus "ministries" - is that they realize that once gay marriage comes to a state and becomes more prevalent, the general public will see that the Christianist cries of "saving marriage" were disingenuous at best if not patently dishonest. Massachusetts is a case in point where the debate over gay marriage has died away and such marriages have become common place - all with no diminution of heterosexual marriage. Indeed, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate of any state, thus further demonstrating the lack of merit of arguments peddled by those like Maggie Gallagher who is herself on the anti-gay marriage financial gravy train. Here are some highlights from a Washington Post story that looks at the non-event status of gay marriage in Massachusetts 5 years later:

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WHITINSVILLE, Mass., -- Twenty years after he met the love of his life, nearly five years after their wedding helped make history, it took a nasty bout of pneumonia for Gary Chalmers to fully appreciate the blessings of marriage. "I was out of work for eight weeks, spent a week in the hospital," Chalmers said. "That was the first time I really felt thankful for the sense of the security we had, with Rich there, talking with the physicians, helping make decisions. ... It really made a difference." At stake was the most basic recognition of marital bonds _ something most spouses take for granted.

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At the time of those first weddings, the debate was red-hot _ protests were frequent, expectations ran high that legislators would allow a referendum on whether to overturn the court ruling ordering same-sex marriage. Now, although Roman Catholic leaders and some conservative activists remain vocally opposed, there is overwhelming political support for same-sex marriage and no prospect for a referendum.

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Some consequences have been tangible _ a boom for gay-friendly wedding businesses, the exit of a Roman Catholic charity from the adoption business _ and some almost defy description. . . . . Another plus: Explanations about family ties are easier now that "husband" is an option. "More than once," Chalmers recalled, "I was introducing Rich and said, 'This is my partner,' and they'd say, 'Oh, what kind of company do you own? What business are you in?'"
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One of the striking developments, since 2004, is the fading away of opposition to gay marriage among elected officials in Massachusetts. When the state's Supreme Judicial Court ruled in 2003 that banning same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, there seemed to be sufficient support in the Legislature for a ballot measure that would overturn the decision. But efforts to unseat pro-gay-marriage legislators floundered; a gay-marriage supporter, Deval Patrick, was elected governor; and a climactic push for a referendum was rejected by lawmakers in 2007 by a 151-45 vote.

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The near-consensus now among political leaders is a far cry from 2003-04, when the debate was wrenching for legislators such as Sen. Marian Walsh. Her district, including parts of Boston and some close-in suburbs, is heavily Catholic and socially conservative, so when same-sex marriage became a public issue, "there wasn't an appetite to discuss it, let alone support it," Walsh said. . . . She described the reaction as a "firestorm" _ embittered constituents, hate mail and death threats, rebukes from Catholic clergy, but she won re-election in 2004 and again in 2006 over challengers who opposed gay marriage.

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Janet Halley, a professor at Harvard Law School who has studied same-sex divorce, said gays and lesbians will likely split at the same rate as heterosexuals, even though they face extra challenges. "The stresses are going to be higher because of the very inconsistent ways in which different states and the federal government enforce the legal elements of marriage," she said. Halley advised gay couples not to strive for some idealized goal of family perfection.

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Opposition to same-sex marriage remains strong in the [morally bankrupt-my editorializing] Roman Catholic hierarchy, though church leaders are less vocal on the issue than a few years ago when they campaigned hard for a referendum. Disappointment in the legislature for blocking a public vote is still deep.

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Bonauto, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit, sees a different outcome as more states consider same-sex marriage or extend other recognition to gay couples. "Goodridge set a new standard, and the standard was equality," she said. "It was a game changer. Even our opponents know it's only matter of time before there's marriage equality nationwide."