A chance to lead the way
Should the Massachusetts Legislature vote on Thursday to endorse a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, it will represent both a moral failure and a missed opportunity. The morality of the issue is clear: The virtues of loving companionship, devotion and stability among adult couples of any sex should be institutionalized and praised, not condemned.
It's an instance where the moral thing to do coincides with sound social policy.


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Marriage center of legal war
'Traditional values' a cry from both sides
By AMY WOLD and PENNY BROWN ROBERTS
awold@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writers
For Gene Mills, Steve Scalise, Shad Duplessis and Terrance Hyde, marriage represents the same thing -- tradition, fidelity and lifelong commitment. Nevertheless, the four men find themselves at war on the battleground to decide once and for all who can legally marry in Louisiana. At a Red Stick Republican Defense of Marriage Rally Saturday afternoon on the steps of the State Capitol, Mills -- executive director of the conservative advocacy organization Louisiana Family Forum -- and Scalise -- a Republican legislator from the New Orleans area -- threatened legal and political action to ensure the institution is limited to men and women.


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Letters
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
03/07/04
4 commissioners are pioneers
Three cheers for the courageous actions of Multnomah County Chairwoman Diane Linn and County Commissioners Lisa Naito, Maria Rojo de Steffey and Serena Cruz.