Let the People Vote On Marriage

As I understand it, the Massachusetts Legislature just forced marriage on everybody. This is wrong. Marriage is a fundamental institution that affects everyone, and it’s too important a decision to be left to the individual couples.

I’m confident that our judges will act swiftly to override the legislature, so once we have the ability to vote on marriages, I want to be ready with some endorsements. So here are some case files:

Marc and Amy, Leominster. Marc’s working a pretty good IT job; Amy does some freelance Internet editing and looks after the couple’s 2-year-old, Robin. They seem very happy, and deserve a good shot. I urge a YES vote on their marriage.

William and Joanne, Hingham. They were married 45 years ago; since their youngest son, Andrew, moved out in 1992, they pretty much sit in stony silence and wait the clock out. It’s pretty sad. I urge a NO vote on their marriage.

Jeff and Kevin, Somerville. One of the first same-sex couples to legally wed, Jeff and Kevin are leading a wonderful life together, free of all of the so-called "gay agenda" sidetracks that so many worried about. They’re doing just fine; I urge a YES vote on their marriage.

Brian and Lucia, Douglas. Though they appear happy, the tragic fact is that Lucia only wanted to marry Brian (back in 1992) to acquire citizenship. The relationship’s been rocky, but for the sake of their three children, I urge a tentative YES, but this bears watching.

Lee and Annabelle, Malden. Just a nightmare. They shout at each other all day, their children are shell-shocked loners, and their dog stands outside in the rain all day on a 2-foot leash. What the priest was thinking when he sanctified this union is beyond me. I strongly urge a NO vote on their marriage.

Jill and Sarah, Northampton. They admit they got married last year "sort of on a lark", but they say that the union has made them really realize the depth of their commitment to one another. I urge a YES vote on their marriage.

Willard and Ann, Belmont. Although they seem happy and successful, this couple belongs to a group that is known to have radically realigned marriage in the past. Although they claim to be committed to each other and each other alone, their organization has been linked to polygamy and marriage-arranging in the past. They may be innocent of these insinuations, but the state can’t let outward appearances change the fact that this may be an unstable environment for their children. I urge a NO vote on this marriage.