Massachusetts' Lawmakers Meet to Give Final Decision on Same-sex Marriage Debate

Mar 29, 2004 11:43 AM EST

MASSACHUSETTS -- Lawmakers are meeting today to finalize the decision on same-sex marriage -- whether to pass the amendment to ban same-sex marriage or to preserve traditional marriage yet allow civil unions for gay couples.

Same-sex marriage amendment supporters oppose civil unions because it seems they are granting similar marriage rights. Homosexual rights groups oppose civil unions (and any "marriage" amendment) because they have already been granted full marriage rights by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.