Grassroots Campaign Takes First Step to Overturn Mass. Gay Marriage

Thousands of volunteers took their first step last week in a grassroots effort to ban homosexual marriage in the only state that allows it, turning in boxes full of signatures to change the state’s constitution.

Thousands of volunteers took their first step last week in a grassroots effort to ban homosexual marriage in the only state that allows it, turning in boxes full of signatures to change the state’s constitution.

Nearly 170,000 signatures were gathered over a two month period, more than double than what was needed. The Massachusetts Family Institute, which says it seeks to promote Judeo-Christian values, played a strong role in organizing the petition drive.

"What does that tell us?" asked Kristian Mineau, president of MFI at a rally on Beacon Hill in Boston according to the Associated Press. "That the people of Massachusetts have not only spoken, they have shouted. And what are they shouting? `Let the people vote.'"

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Same-sex marriage was legalized after a 2003 ruling in the state Supreme Court. Since May 2004 when the court ruling took effect, thousands of gay and lesbian couples have gotten married under the new law.

The current attempt at changing the state’s constitution is not the first time it has had an opportunity to pass a same sex marriage ban. After gay marriage was legalized, the legislature voted to pass a bill to ban gay marriage but would have allowed civil unions, an arrangement between same-sex couples that is often called marriage without the name.

The decision needed to be confirmed by the legislature in a second round of voting but failed to gain approval. Supporters of heterosexual marriage said they would come back stronger with a civil union ban.

Among the thousands of volunteers for the Massachusetts marriage amendment drive were churchgoers. They were urged on by the MFI president to go to supermarkets, post offices and anywhere else with lots of foot traffic to gather signatures.

Mineau had previously stated that he expected opposition from pro-gay groups that would challenge the validity of the signatures. Some critics this time around accused the petition gatherers of deception, having them fill a petition for something completely unrelated to marriage and then sneaking in the marriage amendment petition for without mentioning what was about.

“We believe there was no deception involved,” said Mineau. “This was a bipartisan event. There were no politics involved.”

The next step is for the proposal to be taken up at the May 10 constitutional convention in May next year. The amendment proposal will appear in the 2008 ballot.