O'Flaherty: It's time to move beyond marriage debate

[kweerwolf]

State Rep. Eugene O'Flaherty, an influential opponent of civil marriage rights for same-sex couples, now says that he is opposed to the current effort to put a gay marriage ban on the 2008 ballot. During a lengthy interview with Bay Windows, O'Flaherty also says that as House chair of the legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary he will recommend that the legislation not be passed should it come before his committee, as it likely will.

The Chelsea Democrat has long been an obstacle to gay rights ranging from his opposition to simple domestic partnership legislation to his attempts to block implementation of the Supreme Judicial Court's Goodridge decision, which found that the state constitution guaranteed the rights of lesbian and gay couples to marry. As one longtime State House observer says of O'Flaherty, "He hasn't opposed the gay community, he has led the fight against the gay community viciously and vociferously."

But a number of factors have convinced the five-term legislator to change his position. The lengthy debate on marriage, O'Flaherty says, has consumed too much of his time as a legislator. "I want to try to dispose of this issue," he says. "It's occupied the last three years of my life; a lot of time, a lot of energy and I'd like to apply that to healthcare. I'd like to apply that to some of the other issues that we have in front of us, that as far as I'm concerned, are much more important to our constituents at this point."

He also says he's been influenced by his constituents, most notably Charlestown political activist Ken Stone, a gay man whose wedding O'Flaherty attended last year.

http://www.baywindows.com/media/paper328/news/2005/11/10/News/Oflaherty.Its.Time.To.Move.Beyond.Marriage.Debate-1052971.shtml

(Note to self: If I ever get married, remember to invite lots of anti-gay politicians in the hope they might have a similar change of heart ... but try not to be disappointed when they bring really crappy wedding gifts.) :D

[davidinalameda]

1. there's always those gift certificates from Wal-Mart

then you can buy what you want