Gay Senator Weds

[genieroze]

Gay Senator Weds
by Margo Williams 365Gay.com Boston Bureau

Posted: November 22, 2004 5:02 pm ET

(Boston, Massachusetts) Massachusetts state Sen. Jarrett Barrios has married his longtime partner, Doug Hattaway, a former spokesperson for Vice President Al Gore.

The two were wed in a weekend ceremony at First Parish Church in Cambridge. Same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts last May. (story) Barrios and Hattaway have been together for 10 years and have two children.

In February during a heated debate on a proposed amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution to ban same-sex marriages before they began Barrios delivered an impassioned speech to legislators.

Choking back tears he spoke about how an amendment would affect his family and how important full marriage rights are to gay families.



http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/11/112204senWeds.htm

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. Barrios is my state senator

his speech during the gay marriage debate that's mentioned in this article brought tears to my eyes.

[burrowowl]

2. Congrats

to them both!

[Politicub]

3. Big congratulations to them!

It's great to read some good news for a change.

:toast:

[havocmom]

4. A long and happy marriage!

Wonderful news.

[Ducks In A Row]

5. It's wonderful for people to able to follow their hearts

[mzmolly]

6. Wait! I thought Bush ended Gayism damnit?!

Congrats to the Senator and his partner. :toast:

[havocmom]

7. A long and happy marriage!

Wonderful news. I hear Massachusetts is the state with the best stats for lasting marriages! Best wishes!

[SaintAnne]

8. cool

a little bit of happiness in my dull world!

[Is It Fascism Yet]

9. wow! congrats! who birthed the two children?

[pk_du]

10. But , but ,but.,..isnt my own (hetero) marriage now under attack?

as would be implied by the "Defence of Marriage Act"

Fuck every Rep/Sen who voted for that piece of shit..and , yes, many were Dems.

[brook]

11. May he and...

his partner and children live a long and happy life. :toast:

Whatever happened to "the pursuit of happiness"? While I think "happiness" is a transient state - it has always been important to know that one had a right to chase the rainbow, catch it momentarily - and go for it time after time. We now live in a country where any happiness is immoral.

Have I told you lately how much I hate what the US has become under this Chimperor thing known as *?

[noordinaryspider]

13. What wonderful news!

:toast:

Congratulations to both of them and to their children as well.

[fortyfeetunder]

12. Outstanding news

I am very happy for him and his new spouse. May our country learn soon there is no threat for legalizing love for any couple.

[donheld]

14. best wishes

to the happy guys :toast:

[PrisonerLazy8]

15. Dumb question

"Barrios and Hattaway have been together for 10 years and have two children."

From where did the children come?

[genieroze]

16. I dunno

:shrug:

[PrisonerLazy8]

17. I just hope they can afford a private school for the kids

They would no doubt get crap for the "two daddies" in some public schools. How far is America from accepting families where the parents are not the nuclear man/woman traditional breeding pattern?

[maddezmom]

20. perhaps adoption or surrogacy

:) Lot's of people...even straight ones use these methods.

[Name removed]

23. Deleted message

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[Dem2theMax]

18. Adding my congrats as well.

Always happy to hear that love wins out. :)

:toast:

[Pikku]

19. My heartfelt congratulations, too!

God smiles upon their union. May they have many happy years together.

I'm a public school teacher, and I'd gladly, proudly teach their children.

[RivetJoint]

21. Question- How the hell are the going to file their income taxes?

This is one area that puzzles me. I guess they have to still file as single.

[Toucano]

25. You are correct.

The federal government doesn't recognize the marriage.

Don't let this distract you, though. Filing joint tax returns isn't the driving force behind same-sex unions.

This issue is about FAMILIES and CHILDREN, survivorship, and continuity. People are fighting for same-sex unions most passionately to protect their families.

[RivetJoint]

27. Oh I realize that

It's just a question I've been wondering about.

[Cooley Hurd]

22. Congratulations, Senator and Doug!

:thumbsup:

[gratuitous]

24. Mazel tov to Jarrett and Doug

Although we should probably prepare for a whole s___load of divorces to be filed any second now from the various buckles of the Bible Belt as two men nobody knows get married in Massachusetts, which now invalidates millions of marriages elsewhere.

[zulchzulu]

26. What's going to happen to all the Massachusetts straight married people?

Kidding.

I wish them well.