year after same-sex couples started taking their first-in-the-nation wedding vows in Massachusetts, a constitutional amendment designed to undo gay marriage is facing an uncertain future. Both supporters and opponents of gay marriage, for very different reasons, are hoping to defeat the amendment that was seen as a compromise when it got preliminary legislative approval a year ago.
The proposal to ban gay marriage while allowing civil unions was seen by supporters as a way to preserve some rights for same-sex couples, and by many opponents as a chance to persuade the state Supreme Judicial Court to temporarily stop gay marriage until voters had a say.
Since then the political landscape has shifted, with more support in the Legislature for gay marriage and a lack of widespread opposition by voters as thousands of couples have married.
At the same time, opponents of gay marriage are considering pulling their support for the compromise to work toward a ban of both same-sex marriages and civil unions.
The Roman Catholic Church also opposes both gay marriage and civil unions.
Last year's compromise came during Sen. John Kerry's unsuccessful campaign for president, and reflected the Massachusetts Democrat's position opposing gay marriage but supporting civil unions.
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