Politics & Gay Marriage

Gay marriage is here to stay in Massachusetts, at least for the foreseeable future. By a margin of 151 to 45, lawmakers decided yesterday against sending a proposed ban to a statewide referendum next year.

The vote capped weeks of lobbying at the state house, with Governor Deval Patrick among those leading the charge against the amendment.

Meanwhile, opponents of same sex marriage are promising to press on but they're not yet specifying any further actions.

The issue has generated a lot of political heat, so with that in mind now, WBUR's Bob Oakes turns to Boston Globe columnist Joan Vennochi.