It took 10 years for gay activists led by Arline Isaacson, Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus, to pass gay marriage in Massachusetts. In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson discusses America's Road to Gay Marriage with Arline Isaacson as Massachusetts marks its fifth anniversary of the legalization of gay marriage. Isaacson brings clarity to the circumstances leading up to the historic Goodridge Decision. She revisits the behind the scene strategies that were implemented in order to succeed in this civil rights evolution. “We knew that if the ban went to the ballot in 2002, 2004, or 2006 - we would definitely have lost by a large margin. Had it gone to the ballot in 2008 - the odds might still have been stacked against us. We needed to delay and delay (procedurally in the legislature) until we had the votes to guarantee that it wouldn't go to the ballot” Isaacson states. When asked about Prop 8 she replied “We're not quite out of the woods just yet. Our opponents tasted blood with PROP 8. Now they want more. There is a possibility they'd come back to Massachusetts to try one more time. (They've discussed doing this.) Their thinking is that if they can win in 'oh so gay California' they can win in Massachusetts if it goes to the ballot.” With gay marriage about to pass in 6 states Isaacson replied, “Time is on our side. With the passage of time, we find increased support or at least acceptance of our marriage rights. People see how unthreatening it is to them and the younger demographic cohorts that support us are aging and with each passing year they vote more and more.”
OUTTAKE VOICES™: Massachusetts & Gay Marriage 6 Years Later
For More Info: mglpc.org
Dr. Sam Goldfarb & his husband Stephen Pepper were one of the first gay couples to be legally married in Massachusetts. We documented their marriage in our short film "OUTTAKE " which was narrated by Arline Isaacson. Listen to a recent audio interview with Goldfarb on married life & his thoughts about gay marriage in America...
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