Blogging the gay marriage vote at the Constitutional Convention :: Bay Windows is live at the State House

1:45 p.m.
In front of the State House, it's noticeably warmer on the pro-marriage side of the street, where the crowd is tightly packed. The anti-marriage group is already dispersing. When news of the vote reached the crowd, the pro-marriage people began screaming and waving their hands in the air. Everywhere, people could be spotted crying and kissing each other.

Bob Mendoza crossed the street and waved a photo of Governor Patrick leading the Pride Parade. "Look what you have for a Governor" he called at the celebrating pro-marriage crowd.

"Some of us are proud of that!" responded a woman.

"Well, that's your problem," replied Mendoza. He returned to the anti-marriage group to lead a prayer circle. "All of the ground is sinking sand," he said. He began to weep as he said, "Jesus help them."

Observing Mendoza, Karen Springer from Hyde Park said, "He's showing that photo like it's a bad thing. That's something I'm proud of, to have a governor who would do that, even though it may not be politically good for him down the road."

We spotted South End resident Paul Duffy, who said of the vote, "I'm not surprised. Delighted, but not surprised. The Commonwealth has a conscience. I've always belived that. I'm proud of Deval Patrick". Duffy plans to get married on December 2nd.

1:36 p.m.
Statement from U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy: "The nation's eyes were on Massachusetts today, and they saw a triumph for civil rights and fundamental fairness. Today's historic vote will have a national impact on civil rights for years to come. Massachusetts has led the nation in education, in health care and in biotechnology, and today Massachusetts renewed its commitment as a proud leader in civil rights."

1:32 p.m.
Statement from GLAD executive director Lee Swislow on defeat of amendment.

"GLAD's successful lawsuit, Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, brought marriage equality to Massachusetts.

"We're proud of our state today, and we applaud the legislature for showing that Massachusetts is strongly behind fairness. Equality for gay and lesbian citizens has enriched our state, made our communities stronger, and our families happier. The vote today was the triumph of time, experience, and understanding over fear and prejudice.

"We are deeply grateful to all the legislators who have been with us every step of the way, as well as to those who found their way to a vote for fairness. We thank Governor Deval Patrick, Senate President Therese Murray, and House Speaker Sal DiMasi, for their courageous leadership. We salute every citizen, gay and straight, who fought for this victory, led by our talented, hard-working friends at MassEquality."

1:30 p.m.
Massachusetts Family Institute President Kris Mineau tells the press that is going to call for an investigation into the lawmakers who switched their vote. He said he wants to know if anything illegal happened in the pressure put on lawmakers.

1:20 p.m.
Amendment is defeated! Pro-amendment side only got 45 votes!

1:11 p.m.
Lawmakers are voting. Gale Candaras and Michael Morrisey voted no.

1:10 p.m.
Lawmakers are milling around in the House chamber.

1:05 p.m.
Massachusetts Family Institute President Kris Mineau just told reporters that he's confident his side is "marching" to victory.

1 p.m.
Lawmakers are filing in.

12:58 p.m.
Vote is expected to take place immediately after ConCon convenes. Arline Isaacson told Bay Windows, "We're looking good." When asked how things are going to go, she replied, "It's going to go fast. Very."

12:45 p.m.
An anti-marriage contingent from Western Massachusetts has set up on the corner near the Fox News van. They are holding "anti-sodomy" signs. Andrey Mozoledskiy said, "I'm here because I'm against gay marriage. That's my opinion, my belief, my faith...if you want your country not to prosper, so be it."

Ditaliy Tszor added, "We don't hate anybody. They are from the same creation as I. We are not against the sick people, we are against the disease."

They stated that the Russian community in Springfield is united in opposition to gay marriage.

12:40 p.m.
A shout-off - with one side yelling "What are you afraid of, let the people vote" and the other side shouting "What are you afraid of, let the people marry" - was interrupted when four openly gay lawmakers emerged from the State House to address the crowd, along with Rep. Byron Rushing. They spoke to the pro-marriage throng through a bullhorn.

Rep. Sarah Peake of Provincetown spoke first. She said, "I want to thank all of you for being here today..you don't know how much strength it gives us. We're going to vote today and we're going to hope for the best."

Rep. Liz Malia of Boston then rallied the crowd with "We're here, we're never going away, whether we win or lose today. We're never going away...we're going to take our rightful place"

Rep. Carl Sciortino of Somerville then delivered a heartfelt, "Thank you, thank you, thank you" to the people working all across the state to "make sure that we send a very clear message to Beacon Hill that GLBT citizens are fully equal under the law and will stay fully equal under the law...we are not going away. We will not back down...all GLBT people around the country deseve the equality we have in Massachusetts."

Senator Jarrett Barrios spoke last: "For the four of us, this issue is a little more personal than for our colleagues...but this is not just an issue for gays and lesbians, this an issue for all of us in the Commonwealth.Thank you for coming the first time, thank you for coming the second time, thank you for coming the seventeenth time. This will be, God willing, the last time."

The crowd chanted "thank you, thank you" as the lawmakers returned to the State House.

12:35 p.m.
Rep. Chris Speranzo of Pittsfield tells Bay Windows that he thinks there will be a vote today. When asked what the chances of victory are, he replied, "I think it's very close. I think the numbers look very good which is another reason it looks as if today's the day."

12:30 p.m.
The gays love Mary Bonauto! Bonauto, the GLAD attorney who successfully argued the Goodridge marriage lawsuit, just walked into Gardner Auditorium to deafening cheers and a standing ovation from the crowd. The crowd is overwhelming MassEquality supporters. They have filled up the front and back seats as well as the balcony seats and they are now being directed to sit in balcony seats previously reserved for VoteOnMarriage.org supporters, of which there are only about 70 people. Bonauto seemed a little embarrassed by the crowd's reaction, but she's handling it with grace. Some MassEquality supporters gallantly gave up their seats to Bonauto.

12:15 p.m.
MassResistance is in the house! Sally Naumann of MassResistance is sitting in Gardner Auditorium with the VoteOnMarriage.org folks.

12:15 p.m.
South Enders Bruce Withy and Steven Cohen are at the State House with their sons, Jeremy (who's 3 and a half years old) and Aaron (who's two.) The couple has been together for 20 years, and celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary on June 12. Withy said, "We feel it's a very important moment in history. We care a lot about the world that our sons are going to be entering into."

Asked how much their sons understand of the proceedings, he replied, "They know it's about Daddy and Poppa's marriage."

Cohen said, "We view this movement as a civil rights struggle. We can feel that the tide of history is with us. But like every struggle, it doesn't happen on its own. There are a lot of people who have put a lot on the line. We are thinking of ourselves, we're also thinking of our children...we feel very lucky to live in Massachusetts."

Showing that eloquence is a family trait, little Jeremy then began to chant, "Hey hey, ho ho, discrimination has got to go."

Noon
Vast majority of the crowd in Gardner Auditorium is with MassEquality. Their side of the room is nearly filled to capacity, with about 120 people. VoteOnMarriage.org contingent has 50 people tops. TV screen is no longer broadcasting Barney. Instead, there's a picture of the State House with the words: "Mass House of Representatives next joint session webcast is Thursday, June 14, 2007 at 1 p.m."

11:45 a.m.
Overhead from a man holding a sign that reads, "Adam and Steve = No People. Adam and Eve = Six Billion People": "Two lesbians came up to me and tried to convince me that they had a child without a man. No way!"

Another man is standing near the State House with a sign that reads, "Support the Egg and Sperm Civil Union Compromise." He is passing out literature that calls on Congress to enact a law that would create civil unions for same-sex couples while also banning all cloning. "Same sex conception is unethical and unsafe and should not be allowed," his peace sign-adorned pamphlet reads. "We should all be created equal by the union of a man and a woman's unmodified genes."

11:40 a.m.
Down in Gardner Auditorium, which is starting to fill up with people from both sides, another surreal moment is happening as the audio/video technicians fiddle with the equipment and get ready to broadcast the session: they're playing an episode of Barney, and activists are watching the purple dinosaur as they chat.

11:35 a.m.
More dispatches from pro-amendment side: They are loudly singing "God Bless America."

One man told Bay Windows he was there because: "I want to preserve traditional marriage which involves one man, one woman. Doesn't that sound like a good idea?" He added that children being raised by two moms would grow up "confused" John did not give his last name. "I don't want my friends thinking I talked to a gay newspaper."

Sharon Petty, from Mansfield, told Bay Windows: "I want to vote. My sign says it all. I'm not being silent on this anymore."

11:30 a.m.
Carol Breuer stands out in the anti-marriage crowd with her vivid orange and green outfit, complete with orange tights and lipstick. Drawn to her like a moth to a flame, a Bay Windows reporter learned that the Winchester resident wasn't going to wait for Vote on Marriage to give her a sign to hold. "I'm going to shout as loud as I can," she said. "I hope they pass the marriage amendment so you and I can vote on it. This is a democracy and the people should be voting on this."

Speaking of those signs, Vote On Marriage's Chanel Prunier said the group brought 1000 signs to distribute amongst the anti-marriage equality crowd, whose numbers continue to grow.

Across the street, a pro-marriage sign reads: "Happily Married - Sky Didn't Fall."

11:25 a.m.
Spotted on a sign: "Today is my 20th wedding anniversary. Shouldn't everyone have the same right?"

11:20 a.m.
The Raging Grannies have arrived! The elder singing/activist crew from Western Massachusetts have a new ditty that's sung to the tune of "There's a Tavern In Our Town." Sample lyrics: "There's a ruling in our state/that combats attitudes of hate/by giving gays and lesbians their due."

Ruth Hooke, a Raging Granny with a lesbian daughter living in Virginia said, "I don't agree that there should be a vote on this matter ... a vote is never a good thing for civil rights because the majority will always inflict their will on the minority."

11:15 a.m.
When asked if she thinks the marriage equality side is going to win, Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus Co-Chair Arline Isaacson said, "We may. We may. As of last night we were getting very close and we needed a few more." She added that there are about a dozen lawmakers "who are right on the precipice of flipping, if some of them vote with us we'll win." Isaacson cautioned that it's not a done deal yet that the vote will take place today. "That's being decided this morning," she said. If a vote is taken, she said that "the plan is to have some legislators stay close to their colleagues whose votes we're depending on" and that a counter on the floor will keep track of who's voting which way.

11 a.m.
Dispatches from the pro-amendment side: Anna Smyth, 87, of Squantum, says she believes in civil unions. She's been standing outside since 10 a.m. and intends to stay until the vote is taken.

The Rev. Joseph Medio, a Franciscan Monk in full regalia (bald, long beard, brown robe) is carrying two signs. One says, "Let the People Vote" and the other is a drawing of the Virgin Mary. "We feel really strongly that to protect the common good of society that we protect God's institution of one man, one woman ... [marriage] is a great good for our society that's why we're here."

When asked if he had spoken with any marriage equality activists in attendance, he said, "I tried to reason with them and explain to them why marriage is very important institution. These are God's laws. As a Creator, He has a right. We talk about our rights. But as a Creator, He has a right. I'm not into confrontation; I'm just here to pray.

10:50 a.m.
"Cautiously optimistic." That's the buzz phrase of the day. Lobbyist Norma Shapiro told Bay Windows that that's how she's feeling. State Rep. Marty Walz said the same thing. When Walz was asked what lawmakers are doing right now, she said, "We're having conversations." When Bay Windows expressed surprised that lobbying and "conversations" were still taking place, Walz replied, "Hey, we've got another two hours and 16 minutes."

10:36 a.m.
Politicians are outside rallying the troops. Sen. Jarrett Barrios met with some folks holding a Pride flag and told them: "May this be the last time you have to come out here for your rights."

10:30 a.m.
A group of about five kids and two adults just entered Sen. President Therese Murray's office in a last-ditch attempt to lobby her. Her receptionist gave them a form and asked them to fill it out with their names and where they are from. Outside, Pastor Rich McDonnell of the West Church in Peabody, who lead the group in, told Bay Windows that he brought about 29 people with him from church to the ConCon. "The greater issue is how this has been jammed down our throats and people don't have a chance to participate in this issue," he said, adding that he believes that "marriage is ordained by God for one man and one woman and that's what He's designed for society."

10:20 a.m.
State Rep. Byron Rushing is in the House! He entered the State House to much cheering and applause from the marriage equality side. When asked for a comment on what might happen today, Rushing told Bay Windows, "Let's wait and see what happens" and promised to talk with us after 1 p.m.

10:15 a.m.
A livery driver in a big black sedan pulled up Beacon Street and shouted out the window to a police officer, "I woke up this morning and saw it was flag day. But I didn't know it was fag day!" And then he drove off.

10:10 a.m.
Competing chants. Marriage equality side is chanting "Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho Homophobia's Got To Go!" Pro-amendment side is chanting "One Man, One Woman, Let the People Vote!" Earlier they were singing the hymn, "My God Is An Awesome God."

There are lots of children populating both groups. A child from the marriage equality side is holding a sign that reads, "Children Support Gay Marriage." A child on the pro-amendment side is holding a sign that reads, "I Love My Mom and Dad."

10:00 a.m.
Bay Windows reporters have been circulating amongst the growing crowd outside the State House, interviewing protesters on both sides. Robin Smith from Whitman, who is opposed to gay marriage for political and religious reasons, feels the initiative must go on the ballot.

Stan Griffith of Boston PFLAG said he's here both for personal reasons and "a strong commitment to civil rights. I want to be sure that all families are included and feel safe and protected, and that they have the full benefits that the law provides." He also stressed that there are a number of issues to be voted on today, all of which affect the gay community in some way.

9:50 a.m.
Notables in attendance: Fifth Congressional District candidate Niki Tsongas. Gill Foundation Director Pat Guerriero (looking mighty busy as he works his BlackBerry), National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Executive Director Matt Foreman, who is outside the State House holding a sign and Ed O'Reilly, who is challenging U.S. Sen. John Kerry. Also spotted: Massachusetts Family Institute President Kris Mineau.

9:20 a.m.
Bay Windows reporters have been speaking with some people on the pro-equality side. Fiancees Liz Washer and Laurie Taylor drove in from Northampton for the rally. Here's what they had to say:

Washer: It's very important to us because we're gettign married later this year.

Taylor: It's great to see so many groups represented.
Washer: Plus, we're better looking.

Jerry Ringuette of Quincy was on his way in to the State House to pay a visit to Rep . Bruce Ayers, who has been steadfastly anti-eqality. What does he hope to achieve? "I hope they actually take a close look at what this means, and overwhelmingly defeat it."

He's one of many filing in to speak with their representatives.

9:15 a.m.
An amusing incident: A tour bus wrapped in rainbows stopped at the traffic light on Beacon Street, eliciting cheers and waves from the pro-equality side - much to the confusion of the middle-aged men on board, who were apparently on their way to a business convention.

9:00 a.m.
The ranks of the Let the People Vote contingent have swelled to around 100, and they are clearly expecting many more: there are hundreds of sings ready, stacked against the monument. Behind the monument a prayer circle is forming, and guitarist Dave Schmitz is waiting for his bandmates to show up to regale the crowd with "worship songs."

Robin Smith of Whitman said she is opposed to gay marriage for political and religious reasons. " I feel like 175,000 people are being disenfranchised," she said. "I'm a tradionalist and we should stick with tratiditon." Noting that she has gay friends and family members, she added "It breaks my heart that the gay communtiy thinks it's a personal atack on them."

Tourist Kim Vergottini told Bay Windows she extended her Boston trip by a day so she could attend the ConCon. She said, "It's amazing they want to turn this over. in my mind it's like saying blacks can't vote or woman can't vote."

8:45 a.m.
The Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry held a rally at St. Paul's Cathedral at 7:30 this morning. Addressing the crowd, The Right Reverend Thomas Shaw, an Episcopal Bishop, said: "As close as this vote is, it's not close in God's eyes."

The crowd then formed a dramatic procession that sang as it marched through the Common and up the hill to the State House. They were warmly welcomed by pro-marriage contingent that was already in front of the House, and the group of about 250 people has been singing and cheering ever since.

Across the street, a smaller group of about 50 people represent the Vote on Marriage contingent.

A Bay Windows reporter spoke briefly to Mass Equality's Campaign Director, Mark Solomon, who said he expects the ballot initiative will come to a vote today. "It's going to be close," he said.

It's quiet inside the State House, where about 100 people are waiting to get in to the House chamber. It looks like the Vote on Marriage folks got up earlier, because there's a cluster of them at the head of the line. However, most people are wearing Mass Equality shirts and buttons.