Queer Travel
Gays and lesbian favorite destinations
page 25
Gay Advertising
Reaches new highs
page 21
Noted . Notable . Noteworthy . LGBT News & Views
Volume 22 . Number 04
Speaking Out
Vets against ‘DADT’
page 18
Wmm
www.q-notes.com
June 30.2007
Massachusetts defeats anti-marriage amendment
Proposed amendment would have
rolled back marriage equality for
same-sex couples
by Brad Luna and Donald Miller
BOSTON, Mass. — During a joint session
June 14, Massachusetts lawmakers voted 151
to 45 to defeat a measure that would have
placed a discriminatory, anti-marriage consti
tutional amendment before voters on the
November 2008 ballot. The proposed amend
ment threatened to undo the Massachusetts
Supreme Judicial Court’s historic 2003 deci
sion making the state the first to recognize
marriage equality for same-sex couples.
“Democrats in Massachusetts over
whelmingly recognize that every family is
strengthened when the legal responsibilities
of civil marriage are extended to all couples,”
said Jo Wyrick, Executive Director of the
National Stonewall Democrats. “These legal
obligations serve society by protecting chil
dren, stabilizing homes and securing rela
tionships. We are proud that Democrats in
Massachusetts fully support values which
protect families in the Bay State.”
“This proposed constitutional amend
ment was a misguided attempt to put peo
ple’s equal rights to a vote. We are grateful
that the overwhelming majority of
Massachusetts legislators rejected this divi
sive measure,” said Human Rights
Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
“Today’s vote is a reaffirmation of
Massachusetts’ proud record of choosing
equality over discrimination. For the past
three years, loving and committed same-
sex couples have enjoyed the equal right to
marry in Massachusetts. Despite the
doomsday predictions of opponents of
equality, the sky hasn’t fallen, and no one’s
marriage has been threatened. To the con
trary, the institution of marriage has been
strengthened as same-sex couples and their
families have enjoyed the equal rights and
protections they deserve under
Massachusetts law. The Legislature’s action
ensures that they will continue to enjoy those
equal rights and protections.”
The Massachusetts state constitution
requires that just one-fourth of elected legis
lators approve an “initiative amendment” (a
proposed constitutional amendment intro-
Still safe: same-sex couples continue to share in wedded
bliss in the state of Massachusetts
duced in the Legislature by initiative petition
signed by a specified number of voters), in
consecutive joint legislative sessions before
the proposed amendment goes to the voters.
Opponents of equality gathered signatures to
place the proposed anti-marriage amendment
before the Legislature by initiative petition.
Reggae stars renounce homophobia
Beenie Man, Sizzla and Capleton
sign historic agreement to stop
‘murder music’
by Brett Locke
LONDON — Three of the
world’s top reggae/dancehall
singers have
renounced homo
phobia and con
demned violence
against lesbians
and gay men.
Beenie Man,
Sizzla and
Capleton had
previously released anti-gay hate
songs, including incitements to
murder LGBT people.
They have now signed on in
support of the Reggae Compassionate Act in a
deal brokered with top reggae promoters and
Stop Murder Music activists.
The agreement follows the three-year-long
Stop Murder Music campaign, which resulted
in the cancellation of hundreds of the singers’
concerts and sponsor
ship deals, causing
them income losses
estimated in
excess of five
million dollars.
“The
Reggae
Compassionate
Act is a big
Beenie Man, Sizzla (center) and breakthrough,”
Capleton say they’ll no longer perform said Peter
songs with anti-gay lyrics. Tatchell,of the
British gay human rights group OutRage.
Tatchell is coordinator of the worldwide Stop
Murder Music campaign. He helped negotiate
the deal with the three singers.
“The singers’ rejection of homophobia and
sexism is an important milestone. We rejoice
at their new commitment to music without
prejudice,” said Tatchell.
“This deal will have a huge, positive
impact in Jamaica and the Caribbean. The
media coverage will generate public awareness
and debate; breaking down ignorance and
undermining homophobia.
“Having these major reggae stars renounce
homophobia will influence their fans and the
wider public to rethink bigoted attitudes. The
beneficial effect on young black straight men
will be immense,” he said.
This view is mirrored by fellow Stop
Murder Music campaigner, Dennis L Carney,
vice-chair of the Black Gay Mens Advisory
Group (BGMAG) in London. Carney is of
Jamaican descent and played a leading role in
negotiating the Reggae Compassionate Act. “I
am thrilled that Beenie Man, Sizzla and
Capleton have signed up to this historic agree
ment with the Stop Murder Music campaign,”
see homophobia on 6
Last January 62 of the
state’s 200 legislators voted
in favor of the proposed
amendment, which would
have defined marriage “only
as the union of one man and
one woman.” If 50 or more
legislators had voted in favor
of the proposed amendment
this time, it would have been
placed before the voters on
the 2008 ballot.
Solmonese added: “We
hope that this decisive vote
puts to an end, once and for all,
attempts to bypass the
Supreme Judicial Court’s his
toric decision in the Goodridge
case. The system worked; the
court did its job by applying
the state constitution to guarantee equal pro
tection for all Massachusetts citizens and legis
lators did their job by defeating the anti-mar
riage amendment, which sought to return
same-sex couples to second-class status. Now,
we look forward to seeing other states join
Massachusetts in recognizing marriage equali
ty and putting an end to discrimination against
same-sex couples and their farrtilies.”
The victory for same-sex couples comes as
other states are considering providing equal
marriage rights to same-sex couples under state
law. Earlier this month, the California state
Assembly passed a bill that would provide
same-sex couples with the equal right to marry
under state law. Marriage equality legislation
has also been introduced'and is still pending in
Illinois, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island.
Reaction from opponents of same-sex
marriage was predictable.
Former Gov. Mitt Romney, who is running
for president, said in a statement that the vote
is “a regrettable setback.” He also seized on the
opportunity to make the issue part of his
presidential platform by Indicating his sup
port to pass a national amendment banning
same-sex marriage.
“Marriage is an institution that goes to the
heart of our society^’ he said, “and our leaders
can no longer abdicate their responsibilityf’
On a more positive note, one of the repre
sentatives who switched his vote to block the
ballot initiative had this to say:
“I reflected on the many [gay] couples 1
met and their families, and I just couldn’t bear
the thought of what we’d be doing to them
over the next couple of years,” said state Rep.
Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). I
Out & Equal finalists announced
page 20
Interview: Margaret Cho
page 25
Radio shock jock bashes gays
page 23