Politics and Gay Marriage in Massachusetts

04/06/05

Last year when the Massachusetts’ Highest Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for the State to refuse to issue
the marriage license to the gay couples, all gays around the country celebrated this tremendous victory. The
gay couples in this state, eventually, was honored
and recognized like other loving straight couples.

However, for those evangelical Christians, the sky was crumbling, Jesus was bleeding, and God was being angry. It was a sign of the end of the world.

The chain reaction was like a butterfly effect. With the Republican’s manipulation, this issue mobilized millions of those conservatives to the polls. They voted against their economic interest and put Bush back to the White House.

I visited Boston last week. It has been almost a year that gay couples can get married here. Sky was still beautiful. People still lived their life normally. Families are still closed together. Gay couples and straight couples harmoniously live with each other. Nothing such those claims that gay marriage would damage the family and society ever happened.

This fall the legislature will decide whether to give voters a chance to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage but allow civil unions. Although polls show rising acceptance of gay marriage and civil unions, Mitt Romney, the governor, said neither was acceptable.

Yeah, it is all about politics for those who see the opportunities. Romney, the Mormon Governor, whose eyes are aiming at the White House in 2008 is trying to do anything in his power to stop the gay marriage or even civil union.

Of course, he cannot afford to have that extreme agenda in his resume if he wants to appeal to those evangelical Christian and traditional hardcore voters.

He has a dilemma though. While he is a conservative, to govern the most liberal state like Massachusetts is like a steak lover goes to a vegetarian party. He still loves steak but he cannot have his way. While he is trying to please his home State’s constituents; he has to make sure that he is not alienating those red states’ constituents. However, his approval rating has sunk below the Democrat candidate – Attorney General Tom Reilly.

His governor’s term will be up in 2006. He has to decide if he wants to run for a governor job again but to risk himself of being defeated by his Democrat rival. If he lost, his dream of running a grander job for the White House would be doomed.

Gay marriage is indeed an issue that will bite him in his own state and will haunt him in those red states.

Poor Romney.

I believe even though he does not have a gay issue in his own State; it will be extremely difficult to compete with a heavy weight like John McCain or the party star like Giuliani.

However, Massachusetts should be an example of the truth about the gay marriage. Those myths and allegations about gay marriage should be dismissed by the prosperity of this state even though this God forbidden marriage has taken place almost a year.

If those people are not convinced, just look across our border, our northern neighbor is still doing fine and better.

What’s wrong with gay marriage anyway?

Tae(Kriengsak Athikomvittaya)