Group to seek referendum against gay marriage

[shawmut]

Group to seek referendum against gay marriage
Plan would counter bid for civil unions

By Raphael Lewis, Globe Staff | June 15, 2005

Opponents of same-sex marriage will announce tomorrow an initiative petition to put a constitutional amendment on the statewide ballot in 2008 that would ban such marriages, lawmakers and activists involved said yesterday.

The decision to mount the effort for a Defense of Marriage Act ballot question follows months of intense debate among foes of same-sex marriage, many of whom worry that a competing compromise measure already before the Legislature will fail when it comes up for a vote later this year.

That compromise, which could go on the 2006 ballot, would ban same-sex marriage but establish civil unions for gay and lesbian couples, a provision opponents call ''marriage lite." Its opponents prefer a ban on same-sex marriage, without civil unions, even if the plan means waiting until the 2008 ballot.

''I think the people ought to have a chance to vote on it," said Representative Emile J. Goguen, a Fitchburg Democrat among the group of lawmakers and activists, including the Massachusetts Family Institute, who decided to push for a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage.

The prospect of a new amendment with no provision for civil unions will probably undermine support for the competing, compromise measure. That compromise measure must clear the Legislature once more in order to be placed on the 2006 ballot.



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