Ed Speaks

[merrily]

65. You're welcome. I am ashamed to say that I wasn't even aware of her 2004 Senate floor speech.

That was about the time of the first equal marriage law in the United States, that of Massachusetts. (Vermont was the first to enact civil union.)

November 18, 2003: The Massachusetts Supreme Court rules in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, a case brought by Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, that the state constitution mandates the freedom to marry for same-sex couples. Three months later, the Court reaffirms its decision, stating that only marriage - not separate and lesser mechanisms, such as civil union - sufficiently protects same-sex couples and their families.

May 17, 2004: Massachusetts becomes the first state in the United States to allow same-sex couples to share in the freedom to marry. Marriage opponents attempt to amend the constitution to strip away the freedom to marry, but the amendment is defeated on June 14, 2007, when over 75 percent of the state legislature votes to stand up for all families.

The Mass. Supreme Judicial Court had given the legislature a limited period of time after the Goodridge decision to act. The Legislature wanted to go civil union, but BOTH right wingers and LGBT rights activists opposed it, which took massive courage on the part of the latter, so the legislature dropped it and did nothing. The decision in Goodridge then became final, giving Massachusetts the distinction of being the first state in the nation to recognize equal marriage.

As a result of your information, I have amended this thread: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12777603