Gay Marriage

Figuring for months the Legislature would take the chicken way out on the gay marriage issue, I was surprised to it voted on the issue yesterday. Not surprising, it lives for another day. It will be interesting to see if it survives the next session, however.

Proponents of the vote argued one reason for voting was to uphold the laws of the State Constitution, which is the oldest constitution in the world. The Constitution sort of orders the Legislature to vote on these matters (although it didn't on another issue yesterday, with no repercussions).

It's great that the State Constitution is the oldest in the world, but it's moments like this where it shows its age (along with such out-dated things like the Governor's Council).

Under what other circumstances does something pass a legislature with 25 percent of the vote? Two out of three lawmakers voted against this ballot question, but it lives. This isn't a clarion call for a constituional amendment, but it's worth noting that some corners of the document are sorely out of place in modern-day politics.

It's also worth noting that yesterday's activity and votes were probably the last for Fitchburg Rep. Emile Goguen. It's certainly the last substantive thing Goguen will play a role in. He hands the city's State House torch to Steve DiNatale tomorrow.

It's perhaps fitting that this was the last roundup for Goguen. The gay marriage issue was the one that caught Goguen's attention the strongest in recent years, and it's an appropriate ending to his State House career.