 Sen. John Kerry has angered LGBT civil rights groups after telling a Boston newspaper that the Massachusetts Democratic Party will be making a mistake if it puts an endorsement of same-sex marriage in the party platform next week. "I think it's a mistake," Kerry told the Boston Globe. "I think it's the wrong thing, and I'm not sure it reflects the broad view of the Democratic Party in our state." He made the comments following an event he hosted in Louisiana to promote his proposed KidsFirst Act, which would bring health care to uninsured children.
| Whoa! ... You mean he's finally going to sponsor a bill? Quelle shock! |
Although he supported civil unions and opposed same-sex marriage in last November's presidential election this is the strongest statement Kerry has made on gay marriage. "John Kerry is out of touch with reality Massachusetts voters and Democrats in the state," Josh Friedes, the advocacy director of the Freedom to Marry Coalition told 365Gay.com. Friedes points to a study released this week that shows that 80 percent of voters who typically vote Democratic support marriage equality. The poll, taken by Decision Research for the Mass. Equality Education Fund, also shows that 62 percent of all voters support same-sex marriage. | That's why all those Gay marriage bans were voted down in the last....oh, wait. |
| You gotta love it -- JFnK is out of touch with the nation and with his own state. |
"John Kerry needs to learn that on basic issues of civil rights the electorate respects elected officials who take principled stands," Friedes said. | Kerry wouldn't know a principled stand if he ran his snow board into one. |
| Not true; he's spent his whole life deftly avoiding principled stands. |
Kerry's position also puts him at odds with the chairman of the Massachusetts Democrats, Philip W. Johnston. Johnston says that Kerry's remarks will have little effect on delegates to the party's meeting in Lowell. "I have great affection and respect for John, but I disagree on this issue," Johnston told the Globe. "It is important that the state Democratic Party march in lockstep off a cliff support civil rights. We need to take a stand." Kerry's remarks also are opposed by Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy. Kennedy said he supports the inclusion of the same-sex marriage language in the party platform. | "didsomebodysaysex? i'llberightthere" |
National Stonewall Democrats are also distancing themselves from Kerry's position. "We respectfully and strongly disagree with Senator Kerry and urge him to follow the example of the state's senior Senator by supporting the enforcement of state law," said Eric Stern, NSD Executive Director. "Senator Kerry has been a champion for gay and lesbian families in the United States Senate for decades. That is why we are so deeply disappointed by his remarks." On May 17 thousands of same-sex couples in Massachusetts will celebrate the first anniversary of gay marriage. Same-sex marriage became legal on that date following a ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court making Massachusetts the first state in the nation to legalize gay weddings. | And energized millions of Red State voters across the country. Thank you, Massachusetts! |
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