Massachusetts Gay Marriage to Remain Legal

Jodi Hilton for The New York Times
Leah Krieger, left, and Orly Jacobovits joined gay rights advocates celebrating outside the Massachusetts State House in Boston after legislators voted against a measure that would have put gay marriage on the ballot.

By PAM BELLUCK

The New York Times

BOSTON, June 14 — Same-sex marriage will continue to be legal in Massachusetts, after proponents in both houses won a pitched months-long battle on Thursday to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

“In Massachusetts today, the freedom to marry is secure,” Gov. Deval Patrick said after the legislature voted 151 to 45 against the amendment, which needed 50 favorable votes to come before voters in a referendum in November 2008.

The vote means that opponents would have to start from Square 1 to sponsor a new amendment, which could not get on the ballot before 2012. Massachusetts is the only state where same-sex marriage is legal, although five states allow civil unions or the equivalent. More...