Gay Marriage Vote Put Off in Mass.

BOSTON -- Opponents of gay marriage in Massachusetts appear to be running out of legislative steam _ at least for now.

State lawmakers recessed Thursday without taking a formal stand on a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage.

They meet again Jan. 2, the final day of the legislative session, but it's unlikely a vote would take place in time to get the proposal on the November 2008 ballot.

"This is over. It's over," proclaimed Arline Isaacson of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus.

Opponents of gay marriage gathered 170,000 signatures to put a proposed ban before the current Legislature. Their initiative effectively died with the lawmakers' 109-87 vote to recess _ unless opponents find a way to force a vote before the next Legislature takes office in January.

Under Massachusetts law, the proposal needs the approval of a quarter of the Legislature _ or 50 lawmakers.

The legislators' inaction irked Kris Mineau of the Massachusetts Family Institute, who complained that the Legislature was "thumbing its nose" at the Constitution.

"We might be able to take it into a federal court, who knows? Certainly this denies due process of the people," Mineau said. "The people's right to free speech is being throttled. The people's right to vote is being throttled."

Republican Gov. Mitt Romney, an opponent of gay marriage who decided not to seek re-election as he considers running for president, said there's little he could do to force legislators to vote.

"If people want same-sex marriage, then take a vote. But don't allow the constitution and rule of law not to work," he said.

During the debate, Democratic Sen. Jarrett Barrios, who is openly gay, pointed to his wedding ring and warned colleagues that putting same-sex marriage on the ballot would open the doors to a negative campaign vilifying gays.

"You don't have to live next to us, you don't have to like us," Barrios said. "We are only asking you today to end the debate so that we can sleep easily knowing that while you may not live next to us or even like us that we will at least have the right to enjoy the same rights the rest of you enjoy."