From 365Gay.com Newscenter

Anti-Gay Mass. House Speaker Quits
Pro-Gay Successor Named

by Margo Williams
Boston Bureau

Posted: September 27, 2004 8:02 pm ET

(Boston, Massachusetts) Thomas M. Finneran, the ironfisted speaker of the Massachusetts House and the man who brokered a deal with Republicans to ensure passage of a proposed amendment to the state constitution to ban gay marriage, has abruptly resigned.

The most powerful Democrat at the statehouse said he was stepping down immediately as speaker and would not seek reelection

The resignation came amid a federal investigation into Finneran's role in the redrawing of the state's legislative districts. But Finneran said the probe had nothing to do with his departure. Finneran said he had accepted a job as head of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

His departure puts into question whether opponents of same-sex marriage will be able to muster enough votes to pass the proposed amendment a second time in the next session of the legislature. Passage in two successive sessions is a requirement before going to the voters.

Finneran will be replaced by Rep. Salvatore DiMasi, a social liberal who opposes amending the constitution. That Democrats will keep control of the House is a foregone conclusion and with DiMasi at the helm Beacon Hill observers have declared the amendment all but dead in the water.

Same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts in May. GOP Gov. Mitt Romney and Republicans in the legislature enlisted conservative Democrats to push for the amendment. With the House almost equally divided, Finneran brokered a deal where the the amendment would provide the possibility of civil unions.

The so-called compromise enabled the proposal to be passed (story) after two stormy joint sessions of the House and Senate.

DiMasi has a long history of supporting gay issues. He was a leading advocate for the state's 1989 gay rights bill, which barred discrimination based on sexual orientation, and a strong supporter of the state high court decision legalizing gay marriage this year.

He voted against the proposed amendment and the show of support for him by House Democrats is the strongest signal yet that the amendment will not make it to voters in 2006.

``We're ecstatic,'' said Arline Isaacson, co-leader of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. ``While this certainly does not guarantee a change in the outcome, it sure as heck helps.''

DiMasi will be sworn in on Wednesday.