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CNN Live At Daybreak

Gay Marriage: Debate in Massachusetts

Aired February 12, 2004 - 06:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well the battle lines will be drawn again today as Massachusetts lawmakers go for round two in the debate over same-sex marriage.
We take you now live to Boston and reporter Gail Huff of CNN affiliate WCVB. She is at the state house (ph) this morning.

Hello.

GAIL HUFF, WCVB-TV REPORTER: Good morning.

It is back to the drawing board today after two failed attempts yesterday. Late into the night, lawmakers were working hard on revised language that they are hoping is really going to put an amendment through today that would ban gay marriage in Massachusetts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAIL HUFF, WCVB-TV REPORTER: Mr. President, what happened?

(voice-over): Senate President Robert Travaglini isn't talking about his failed compromise amendment that would have banned gay marriages but legalized civil unions for gay couples. It lost by 10 votes. The biggest stumbling block, the revocation of marriage licenses for gay couples two years down the road if voters decide against same-sex marriages.

Today, language may be revised to allow them to keep their marriage licenses no matter what. Earlier yesterday, House Speaker Thomas Finneran surprised fellow lawmakers by presenting his own version of an amendment. Similar to Travaglini's, his lost by only two votes.

ROBERT TRAVAGLINI, MASSACHUSETTS SENATE PRESIDENT: No pressure has been applied, no arms have been twisted. This is a conscience vote. Every men -- every man and every woman in the legislature has to reach their own decision. And that's what we saw. These are tough issues. We are as divided as the Supreme Judicial Court.

HUFF: Ironically, the sponsor of the original Travis amendment, which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, never even came up for debate on the floor yesterday. Apparently it will today with some revisions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The longest battle I've ever participated on one subject matter. I've done budgets for three days in a row for 72 hours in my freshman years, but this still is the best battle I've ever seen in my life.

HUFF: It's a battle that proponents of gay marriage fear they are losing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it's increasingly clear that they are lining up against us. And it is increasingly clear that they have an orientation towards placing discrimination into the Constitution.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUFF: One of the concerns is that if a gay marriage were to actually be allowed here in Massachusetts, federal lawsuits would ensue. It is likely that they would want the same rights in other states and the same rights from the federal government.

Reporting live, I'm Gail Huff -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Gail, we appreciate it.

Here's a look, by the way, at where the Democratic candidates stand on the gay marriage issue. John Kerry is against gay marriage but in favor of benefits and rights for gay couples. John Edwards says leave the issue to the states. He supports partnership benefits. Howard Dean has no public position, but he is against the Defense of Marriage Act and he backs civil unions. Al Sharpton backs marriage rights for gays. And Dennis Kucinich supports same-sex marriages with all economic benefits.

Learn more about the candidate's positions on the issues at CNN.com/election.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired February 12, 2004 - 06:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well the battle lines will be drawn again today as Massachusetts lawmakers go for round two in the debate over same-sex marriage.
We take you now live to Boston and reporter Gail Huff of CNN affiliate WCVB. She is at the state house (ph) this morning.

Hello.

GAIL HUFF, WCVB-TV REPORTER: Good morning.

It is back to the drawing board today after two failed attempts yesterday. Late into the night, lawmakers were working hard on revised language that they are hoping is really going to put an amendment through today that would ban gay marriage in Massachusetts.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

GAIL HUFF, WCVB-TV REPORTER: Mr. President, what happened?

(voice-over): Senate President Robert Travaglini isn't talking about his failed compromise amendment that would have banned gay marriages but legalized civil unions for gay couples. It lost by 10 votes. The biggest stumbling block, the revocation of marriage licenses for gay couples two years down the road if voters decide against same-sex marriages.

Today, language may be revised to allow them to keep their marriage licenses no matter what. Earlier yesterday, House Speaker Thomas Finneran surprised fellow lawmakers by presenting his own version of an amendment. Similar to Travaglini's, his lost by only two votes.

ROBERT TRAVAGLINI, MASSACHUSETTS SENATE PRESIDENT: No pressure has been applied, no arms have been twisted. This is a conscience vote. Every men -- every man and every woman in the legislature has to reach their own decision. And that's what we saw. These are tough issues. We are as divided as the Supreme Judicial Court.

HUFF: Ironically, the sponsor of the original Travis amendment, which would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman, never even came up for debate on the floor yesterday. Apparently it will today with some revisions.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The longest battle I've ever participated on one subject matter. I've done budgets for three days in a row for 72 hours in my freshman years, but this still is the best battle I've ever seen in my life.

HUFF: It's a battle that proponents of gay marriage fear they are losing.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: But it's increasingly clear that they are lining up against us. And it is increasingly clear that they have an orientation towards placing discrimination into the Constitution.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HUFF: One of the concerns is that if a gay marriage were to actually be allowed here in Massachusetts, federal lawsuits would ensue. It is likely that they would want the same rights in other states and the same rights from the federal government.

Reporting live, I'm Gail Huff -- Carol.

COSTELLO: All right. Thank you, Gail, we appreciate it.

Here's a look, by the way, at where the Democratic candidates stand on the gay marriage issue. John Kerry is against gay marriage but in favor of benefits and rights for gay couples. John Edwards says leave the issue to the states. He supports partnership benefits. Howard Dean has no public position, but he is against the Defense of Marriage Act and he backs civil unions. Al Sharpton backs marriage rights for gays. And Dennis Kucinich supports same-sex marriages with all economic benefits.

Learn more about the candidate's positions on the issues at CNN.com/election.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com