yay for massachusetts.

a joint session of the house and senate voted 157-39 against a proposed constitutional amendment that sought to ban gay marriage but legalize civil unions.

dozens of legislators who had initially supported the proposed change to the state constitution said they no longer felt right about denying the rights of marriage to same-sex couples

"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."

i know the opponents haven't stopped, they're busy crafting a more restrictive proposal. i am heartened by those voices who actually pay attention and note that the gay marriages that have so far been performed have not done any harm to heterosexual marriages.

if you care about writing

here's an interesting "meditation" by rysmiel.