Constitutional Amendment

Sent to Boston Globe
December 28, 2006

The members of the legislature are now under great pressure to vote on the Constitutional amendment on the definition of marriage: that marriage is between one man and one woman (Vote on gay marriage is due but can't be forced, SJC says. Boston Globe, December 28, 2006, p: A1).
They should do so, but they should vote in accord with the principle that the Constitution is designed to protect the rights of minorities, not to restrict them. Democracy easily turns into demagoguery and it is demagoguery to insist that our gay and lesbian friends and neighbors should not have the right to marry.
They should not vote on the basis of their religious beliefs. They should not vote in favor of the amendment because the Archbishop told them to, or their Minister told them  to, or even that their constituents told them to.
The members of the legislature should vote unanimously against this amendment.