Wednesday, April 20, 2005

The Curious Emile Goguen: Part 4

Rep. Emile Goguen has a couple of other marriage-related bills up for consideration this term of the Massachusetts House, as well has trying to throw out the justices who legalized same-sex marriage.

His 653, is a DoMA fill that defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman. It precludes civil unions as well with its wording. “Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage or its legal equivalent, nor shall it receive the benefits or incidents exclusive to marriage from the Commonwealth, its agencies, departments, authorities, commissions, offices, officials and political subdivisions.” That bill is so nasty and so against the feelings of most voters that civil unions would be okay, that he only got Rep. Philip Travis to co-sponsor it.

His 654 was even worse. Nobody would sign on. It wants to void the same-sex marriages performed since May 17, 2004.

Last year, his bill to can the justices died in committee. “I’'ll keep submitting it until hell freezes over,” he told the Fitchburg area Sentinel & Enterprise.

Incredibly, in comments to that newspaper, Goguen tries to compartmentalize his actions. “He says his opposition "wasn'’t targeted at gays but at the Supreme Judicial Court justices who ruled the state had unconstitutionally banned same-sex marriage...’'I have nothing against gay people. I know I'’ve been accused of not treating people the same. It’'s not true.’”'"

Go figure.


Part one of this series is here. Part five is here.

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