AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE
NEW
ENGLAND REGIONAL OFFICE
2161 Massachusetts Ave Cambridge , Ma 02140
tel. (617) 661-6130
fax (617) 354-2832
CONTACT:
Joseph Gerson , AFSC NE Regional Office (617) 661-6130
Joanne Comerford , Western Mass Office (413) 695-6059
For Immediate Release
November 18, 2003
AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE IN NEW
ENGLAND
APPLAUDS MASSACHUSETTS SJC
RULING FOR GAY MARRIAGE
Says decision applies a single standard
of justice in matters of civil law
CAMBRIDGE , MA —The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) in New England applauds the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts for its ground-breaking ruling in Goodridge et al vs. Department of Public Health. The ruling declares that “barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution,” and requires the State Legislature to take appropriate action, within 180 days, to rectify the exclusion of same sex couples from access to civil marriage.
“The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has rightfully applied a single standard of justice in the matter of civil marriages. This will play a major role in ending centuries of painful, destructive, and sometimes deadly discrimination,” said Joseph Gerson , Regional Program Director for AFSC in New England . AFSC upholds the rights of individuals, families, and faith communities to maintain their separate beliefs, and believes that no one faith tradition can or should speak for all in this regard.
“We assume that there will be attempts, both in Massachusetts and at the Federal level, to amend the respective constitutions of each, disallowing the possibility of gay marriage,” said Gerson. “But we know as certainly that there is no turning back and that the time is coming when we will all look to yesterday and wonder just why there was so much fear and what the debate was really about.” Joanne Comerford of AFSC's Western Massachusetts office added, “We believe that no ‘floodgates' will be opened because of the Court's decision. The nation has spent half a century coming to terms with the notion that ‘separate but equal' status for people of color was inherently impossible. We ought not now attempt to impose such shackles on sexual minorities. Because we believe that attacks on the civil or human rights of people due to their sexuality or gender identity are contrary to the tenets of our own religious experience, we urge people to contact their Senators and Representatives at both the state and federal level opposing such amendments.”
Over the last three years, the neighboring state of Vermont has had thousands of people enter into civil unions, effectively giving same sex couples many of the privileges and benefits of marriage under the Common Benefits clause of the Vermont Constitution. At the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy laws in Texas and many other states. The Court said that there was an important link between the issues of equal treatment and the respect which is due private conduct. In its decision, the Court also cited, perhaps for the first time, changing world opinion.
Almost simultaneously, provincial courts in Canada ruled in favor of same sex marriage, and the Canadian government pledged to make it the law of the land. AFSC's amicus brief in the Texas case stated that where conduct involves no harm or violence to others—no act of abuse, assault, coercion, exploitation, or public indecency—governments should not attempt to legislate codes of private morality.
AFSC has supported the struggle for rights and recognition for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people for almost forty years. AFSC in New England is proud to celebrate with the whole LGBT family this solid, forthright stand for true diversity and equality.
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The American Friends Service Committee is a Quaker organization that includes people of various faiths who are committed to social justice, peace and humanitarian service. Its work is based on the belief in the worth of every person and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice
11/18/03