Marriage amendment fails in Massachusetts...

An attempt to pass an ammendment banning same-sex marriage failed earlier this week....but that won't stop opponents from trying......

On the horizon looms a second, more restrictive amendment. While the proposal that was rejected by a joint session of the House and Senate on Wednesday (story) would have banned same-sex marriage while allowing civil unions, as proposed amendment put forward by the conservative Massachusetts Family Institute would block both gay marriage and civil unions.

"We realize today there is still a lot of work to be done," Joshua Legg of Freedom To Marry told 365Gay.com. "But, people are not going to lie down and be walked over in the Commonwealth."

Today's vote at the State House was the second of a two part process to get the legislature's proposal onto the ballot in 2006.

With less than two hours of debate lawmakers voted 157-39 against the measure.

Last March when it passed the first phase, it did so by only a handful of votes and after heated debate. (story) Many Democrats opposed the measure and many Republicans who object to gay marriage voted against it because it would permit civil unions.

But as more and more same-sex couples married in Massachusetts support for the measure dwindled.

"Gay marriage has begun, and life has not changed for the citizens of the commonwealth, with the exception of those who can now marry," said state Sen. Brian Lees, an East Longmeadow Republican who had been a co-sponsor of the amendment. "This amendment which was an appropriate measure or compromise a year ago, is no longer, I feel, a compromise today."

Nice to see legislatures in California and Massachusetts supporting gay marriage.