CRYSTAL: HI, EVERYBODY.

I’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," 20 YEARS OF MASSACHUSETTS GRANTING SAME-SEX COUPLES THE RIGHTS TO MARRY.

WE SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY THAT HELPED.

AND THE DOZENS OF TENANTS RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF A MULTIBILLION-DOLLAR HOUSING BILL.

GBH NEWS’ KATIE LANNAN JOINS US TO BREAK IT DOWN.

PLUS, CHRIS FLEMING TAKES TORI BEDFORD ON A TOUR OF HIS HOMETOWN, STOW.

20 YEARS AGO MANY SAME-SEX COUPLES MADE HISTORY AT CAMBRIDGE CITY HALL AFTER MIDNIGHT.

THEY SAID THEIR VOWS AFTER A SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT RULING MAKING MASSACHUSETTS THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO LEGALIZE GAY MARRIAGE.

THOSE CEREMONIES AND TENS OF THOUSANDS THAT FOLLOWED OUR THANKS TO THE MASSACHUSETTS SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT RULING IN GOODRICH V. THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

GAY, LESBIAN ADVOCATE AND DEFENDERS OR G.L.A.D.

PAVED THE WAY FOR STATES AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO FOLLOW SUIT.

I AM JOINED BY ARLINE ISAACSON OF ISAACSON POLITICAL CONSULTING WHO LED THE LOBBY EFFORT FOR THE MARRIAGE RULING IN THE MARRIAGE RULING IN EARLY 2000’S.

AND BEN KLEIN G.L.A.D.

OF HIV LITIGATION AND LAW.

WE KNOW LANDMARK DECISIONS DO NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT.

THIS TOOK A LONG TIME TO GET THIS RULING IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TALK TO ME ABOUT WHAT THAT FIGHT LOOKED LIKE.

BEN: THE ROAD TO THE GOODRIDGE DECISION WAS DECADES IN THE MAKING AND THERE WERE PREREQUISITES THAT HAD TO BE IN PLACE BEFORE YOU COULD DO SOMETHING AS MONUMENTAL AS BRINGING A CASE CHALLENGING THE EXCLUSION FROM THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE.

HE GOES BACK DECADES OF THE AIDS EPIDEMIC.

THE REASON I SAY THE AIDS EPIDEMIC, THEY HAD BEEN INVISIBLE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY AND PEOPLE DID NOT UNDERSTAND THE WAY GAY AND LESBIAN COUPLES WERE DENIED BY ANY LEGAL RECOGNITION FOR THEIR RELATIONSHIPS.

DURING THE AIDS EPIDEMIC IT WAS TRANSFORMATIVE.

EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS SO MUCH DEATH, THEY SAW LOVING GAY COUPLES TAKING CARE OF EACH OTHER, BUT ALSO SAW PEOPLE DENIED HOSPITAL VISITATION FOR LOVED ONES, PEOPLE ESTRANGED FROM THEIR FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY HAD BEEN REJECTED BY THEIR FAMILIES.

AND AFTER THEIR DEATH, THE FAMILY SWOOPS IN, TAKES CONTROL OF THE BODY, SOMETIMES EXCLUDES THE SURVIVING SPOUSE FROM A FUNERAL OR EVEN KICKING THEM OUT OF THE HOME THEY LIVED IN.

THAT CHANGED THE VISIBILITY OF COUPLES AND HELPED THEM UNDERSTAND THE HARMS.

YOU ALSO HAD TO PASS BASIC PROTECTIONS.

ARLINE WAS ONE OF THE LOBBYIST PASSING THE LESBIAN AND GAY NONDISCRIMINATION LAW IN 1989.

YOU NEEDED THOSE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS IN PLACE SO LESBIAN AND GAY PEOPLE WERE NOT STRANGERS TO THE COURTS OR LEGISLATURE.

ALL THOSE THINGS HAD TO BE IN PLACE AND YOU STILL HAD FIERCE RESISTANCE TO THE EFFORTS TOWARD MARRIAGE EQUALITY TOWARD SAME-SEX COUPLES.

CRYSTAL: TALK ABOUT LAYING THAT FOUNDATION BEFORE THIS DECISION.

ARLINE: BEN’S DECISION IS ACCURATE.

BEFORE THE GOODRIDGE DECISION WE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET THE LEGISLATURE TO NOT VOTE ON THE MARRIAGE -- ISSUE OF MARRIAGE EQUALITY.

WE HAD A 10 YEAR BATTLE BEFORE WE HAD ENOUGH VOTES TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND BEFORE THE GOODRIDGE DECISION WE NEEDED THE LEGISLATURE TO NOT VOTE ON IT BECAUSE WE KNEW WE WOULD LOSE OVERWHELMINGLY.

THE CULTURE AND POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WERE STACKED AGAINST US.

ONCE THE GOODRIDGE DECISION WAS DECIDED, WE HAD SEVERAL MORE YEARS OF INTENSE BATTLES TO KEEP THE LEGISLATURE FROM REPEALING THE GOODRIDGE DECISION AND CHANGING OUR CONSTITUTION TO MAKE IT UNCONSTITUTIONAL FOR US TO GET MARRIED.

IT TOOK US APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS AND WAS VERY CHALLENGING, BUT EVERY SINGLE YEAR WE SAW WE WERE GETTING MORE AND MORE SUPPORT IN THE CULTURE.

EVERY YEAR, MORE SUPPORT IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IF WE COULD BUY ENOUGH TIME, WE KNOW EVENTUALLY PEOPLE WOULD CHANGE THEIR MINDS.

WE NEEDED TIME TO PERSUADE PEOPLE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WERE WORTH PROTECTING.

CRYSTAL: WE KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN CHALLENGES TO THE DECISION.

I AM SURE THAT IS SOMETHING G.L.A.D.

AND OTHERS WERE PREPARED FOR.

THAT WAS ONLY ONE STEP OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN.

BEN: THAT IS RIGHT.

THE GOODRIDGE BEING THE FIRST DECISION ESTABLISHING MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN THE COUNTRY WAS CELEBRATED AS THIS INCREDIBLE BREAKTHROUGH ACKNOWLEDGING THERE WAS NO JUSTIFICATION UNDER THE EQUALITY AND LIBERTY PRINCIPLES OF THE MASSACHUSETTS CONSTITUTION TO EXCLUDE SAME-SEX COUPLES.

AND OF COURSE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THE SECOND STATE.

ALL THESE CASES ARE BROUGHT UNDER STATE CONSTITUTIONS BECAUSE WE WERE NOT READY FOR THIS TO GO TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN 2003 AND THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.

YET AFTER THE MASSACHUSETTS DECISION, EVERY COURT TO THIS -- TO CONSIDER THE ISSUE UNTIL 2008 REJECTED IT AND THE OPPOSITION WAS FIERCE.

THERE WAS THIS DEEPLY ENTRENCHED NOTION THAT MARRIAGE WAS JUST INHERENTLY A MAN-WOMAN INSTITUTION.

DEFINITIONALLY THERE WAS NO WAY TO INCLUDE SAME-SEX COUPLES.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME AND SEVERAL BATTLES IN THE COURT AND LEGISLATURES BEFORE THE CASE WAS EVEN POSSIBLE TO GET TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT WHICH IN 2015, RULED IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION TO EXCLUDE SAME-SEX COUPLES AND WE NOW LIVE IN A COUNTRY WHERE IT IS NOT ONLY THE LAW OF THE LAND, BUT THREE QUARTERS OF THE PEOPLE SUPPORTED.

CRYSTAL: WE HAVE A PIECE OF SOUND FROM THE SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE, MARGARET MARSHALL , ON BOSTON PUBLIC RADIO.

SHE WAS ON LAST FRIDAY SPEAKING ABOUT THIS DECISION AND HOW HUGE IT WAS FOR HER PEER LET’S TAKE A LISTEN.

>> MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE NUMBER OF TIMES PEOPLE, GAY PEOPLE, MARRIED AND NOT MARRIED HAVE SAID TO ME, ARE WE SAFE?

I BELIEVE IN MASSACHUSETTS WE ARE AS SAFE AS WE CAN BE ANYWHERE.

HOWEVER, WE ARE A NATIONAL COUNTRY.

IT GOES SLOWLY, IT GOES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

JUDGES HAVE INFLUENCE.

CRYSTAL: I WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT.

YOU KNOW THIS INTERVIEW WAS WIDE SWEEPING AND AMAZING.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT FEELING OF LACK OF SAFETY.

ARLINE: SHE IS RIGHT.

THERE CONTINUES TO BE A SENSE OF VULNERABILITY.

MASSACHUSETTS WAS THE FIRST STATE TO WIN AND TO DEFEAT MARRIAGE PROHIBITIONS.

40 OTHER STATES PASSED MARRIAGE PROHIBITIONS.

THERE IS A SENSE OF VULNERABILITY THAT OUR SUPREME COURT HAS UNDONE ABORTION RIGHTS FOR EXAMPLE RECENTLY, MIGHT THEY TRY TO UNDO THIS?

THERE IS NERVOUSNESS AROUND IT AND PEOPLE FEEL VULNERABLE, BUT WE ARE PREPARED TO FIGHT.

IF THEY TRY TO DO IT, WE WILL FIGHT IN THE COURTS WITH THE BILLION LAWYERS BEN REPRESENTS AND FIGHT IN THE STATEHOUSES.

CRYSTAL: IS THERE CURRENT CONCERN AS THE TIDE SHIFT IN THE COUNTRY SINCE 2016, I THINK MOST FOLKS CAN SAY, MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL UNSAFE IN THE COUNTRY.

IS THERE CONCERN THIS MIGHT BE THE NEXT PIECE OF LEGISLATION, NEXT LAW OF THE LAND THAT WILL BE CHOPPED DOWN?

BEN: THE THING THAT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER AND PEOPLE ARE REFLECTING ON ON THE 20 FOR NUMBERS THREE OF GOODRIDGE, MARRIAGE EQUALITY WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE THE END POINT OF THE MOVEMENT FOR LIBERATION.

WE HAVE FACED FIERCE RESISTANCE DURING THE MARRIAGE EQUALITY YEARS AND IT HAS NOT DISAPPEARED.

IT HAS POINTS WHERE IT FLARES UP.

RIGHT NOW WE ARE FACING WERE LIGHTLESS ATTACKS AGAINST LGBTQ PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

24 STATES HAVE BANNED HEALTH CARE FOR TRANSGENDER AND LESSONS -- ADOLESCENTS, STANDARD MEDICAL CARE PROVIDED BY ALL AUTHORITATIVE MEDICAL INSTITUTIONS.

THEY CANNOT THRIVE UNDER THAT.

WE HAVE SEEN BOOK BANNING, ATTEMPTS TO CURTAIL CURRICULUM, CHALLENGES TO SCHOOL POLICIES MEANT TO PROTECT LGBTQ PEOPLE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VIGILANT.

THE MOVEMENT FOR THE FULL INCLUSION AND PARTICIPATION OF LGBTQ PEOPLE IN OUR SOCIETY CONTINUES.

IT WAS NEVER FINISHED.

WE ARE LIVING IN A WORLD NOW WHERE PEOPLE ARE VULNERABLE AND CONCERNED, NOT JUST LGBTQ, BUT SO MANY PEOPLE FEELING UNDER ATTACK AND NOT PROTECTED.

CRYSTAL: ABSOLUTELY.

I WANTED TO PLAY ANOTHER BIT OF SOUND WE HAVE FROM A PLAINTIFF IN THE GOODRIDGE DECISION SHARING HOW SHE FEELS ABOUT THE ONGOING FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS TODAY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

>> WE HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE, WE HAVE HAD TO FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS.

YOU CAN’T BE COMPLACENT.

I THINK THAT IS THE MESSAGE OF TODAY.

WE NEED TO BE OPTIMISTIC, BUT CONTINUE TO WORK TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE UNDERSTAND OUR POSITIONS AND COME ALONG WITH US.

CRYSTAL: ARLINE, I WILL GIVE YOU THE LAST WORD JUST TO RESPOND TO THAT.

ARLINE: SHE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

WHAT IS THAT ADAGE ABOUT THE PRICE OF DEMOCRACY IS ETERNAL VIGILANCE?

I MAY HAVE SAID IT WRONG, BUT WE CANNOT REST ON OUR LAURELS ABOUT THE RIGHTS WE WON BECAUSE THEY CAN BE TAKEN AWAY AND WE HAVE TO BE TURNLEY VIGILANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO US OR OTHERS AS WELL.

CRYSTAL: ARLINE ISAACSON AND BEN KLEIN, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

ZONING CHANGES, NEW FEES FOR SELLERS, AND INVESTMENTS AND INVESTMENTS IN HOUSING ARE PART OF A $4 BILLION HOUSING BOND BILL SOME ARE SAYING IS KEY TO MAKING MASSACHUSETTS MORE AFFORDABLE.

>> WE HAVE A HOUSING SHORTAGE DRIVING UP COSTS THAT IS DECADES IN THE MAKING.

CRYSTAL: THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JOINED THE MASS UNION OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO RALLY IN SUPPORT OF THIS BILL AND GBH NEWS STATEHOUSE REPORTER KATIE LANNAN WAS THERE AND JOINS ME NOW.

TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS BILL AND WHY THE ADMINISTRATION THINKS IT WILL BE SO TRANSFORMATIVE.

KATIE: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THIS BILL THEY ARE HOPING IS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS WE TALK ABOUT TAKING A BITE OUT OF THE HOUSING CRISIS.

WE KNOW IT IS EXPENSIVE TO LIVE HERE, THERE ARE NOT A LOT OF APARTMENTS TO RENT OR HOMES TO BUY, IS THE SHEER SCOPE OF THIS BILL.

$4 BILLION IS A LOT OF MONEY AREA -- MONEY.

IT IS MONEY THAT WOULD BE BORROWED, NOT OFF THE STATE BUDGET DIRECTLY.

A BIG COMPONENT OF THIS IS PUBLIC HOUSING, REPAIRING AND RENOVATING EXISTING PUBLIC HOUSING STOCK TO MAKE THEM INTO STABLE, AFFORDABLE HOMES FOR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

BY COMPARISON, THE LAST TIME A HOUSING BOND BILL WAS PASSED IN 2018, THAT HAD LESS THAN HALF THE AMOUNT IN IT FROM PUBLIC HOUSING THAT GOVERNOR HEALY IS PROPOSING TO SPEND --HEALEY IS PROPOSING TO SPEND.

SHE WANTS $1.6 BILLION TO GO TOWARD PUBLIC HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS.

CRYSTAL: I AM WONDERING ABOUT FOLKS OPPOSED TO SPENDING THIS MUCH MONEY ON PUBLIC HOUSING.

WHAT DID THEY SAY?

KATIE: I DO NOT THINK THAT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE REALLY HEARD FOCUS FROM THE OPPOSITION AT THIS POINT.

BUT SO FAR WE HAVE HEARD PEOPLE ARGUING AGAINST THE BILL AS A WHOLE BECAUSE I THINK THERE IS A REALIZATION OF THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING TO CREATE MORE HOUSING UNITS IN MASSACHUSETTS.

MOSTLY WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE BILL THEY SAY THEY AGREE WITH THE GOALS.

THE SEGMENT THAT HAS GOTTEN MORE CRITICISM, THERE ARE PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT ZONING CHANGES, PARTICULARLY GIVING HOMEOWNERS THE RIGHT TO BUILD IN LAW APARTMENTS, IN JARGON CALLED ACCESSORY UNITS WITHOUT SPECIAL PROCEDURES ON THEIR PROPERTIES AND THE OTHER CONTROVERSIAL PIECE IS, THE SO-CALLED TRANSFER TAX OR TRANSFER FEE, WHICH IN CITIES AND TOWNS THAT WISH TO ADOPT THAT, IT WOULD ADD A NEW FEE ON TOP OF THE SALE OF A HOME.

A HIGH-VALUE AND EXPENSIVE HOME, SO THAT THAT MONEY COULD BE DEDICATED TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.

THOSE ARE THE PIECES, THAT WHEN YOU HEAR OPPOSITION, IT IS TO THOSE -- THOSE IDEAS.

CRYSTAL: THE STATEHOUSE PUBLISHED AN ARTICLE THAT SAYS LAST WEEK HOUSE SPEAKER RON MARIANO SAID HE WAS SKEPTICAL OF THE TRANSFER TAX FEE AND IT IS "NOT AS POPULAR AS I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE."

NOT QUITE SURE WHAT HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE, BUT THERE IS ALWAYS TENSION WHEN THERE IS A BILL WITH A BIG PRICE TAG AND SOMEHOW THE STATE HAS TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR IT.

KATIE: ABSOLUTELY.

THE OTHER THING SPEAKER RON MARIANO BROUGHT UP ABOUT THE TRANSFER FEE IS, HE SEES IT AS SOMETHING THAT WOULD BENEFIT WEALTHIER COMMUNITIES WITHOUT MUCH IN THERE FOR LOWER INCOME COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE ARE ALSO STRUGGLING TO BUY HOUSING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO ADOPT THIS LOCAL TAX OR FEE ON TOP OF CERTAIN HOME SALES, YOU ARE AT PLACES IN THE BOSTON AREA.

PLACES ON CAPE COD PREDOMINANTLY.

IN THOSE AREAS PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT SAY TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK IN THESE COMMUNITIES CANNOT AFFORD TO LIVE HERE.

BUT YOU ALSO HEAR OPPOSITION FROM THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY.

THEY HAVE BEEN WARNING THAT THIS, IT IS A NEW FEE.

IT WOULD MAKE A HOME TRANSACTION MORE EXPENSIVE AT A TIME WHEN PRICES ARE ALREADY SO HIGH.

IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT THE SPEAKER SAID, HE IS WORRIED ABOUT NOT HAVING THE VOTES TO GET THIS POLICY THROUGH.

ON BEACON HILL WE DO NOT SEE LEADERSHIP BRING SOMETHING TO THE FLOOR IF IT DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH A STRONG DEMOCRATIC SUPER MAJORITY IN BOTH BRANCHES.

CRYSTAL: TO WEAR OUT A PHRASE WE HAVE ALL HEARD, THE RENT IS TOO DANG HIGH.

WE HAVE SOME NUMBERS HERE IN REGARDS TO THAT.

IT TALKS ABOUT THE GREATEST GAPS BETWEEN WAGE GROWTH AND RENT GROWTH, WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

THE SOURCE BEING STREET EASY.

NEW YORK WAGES WENT UP 1.2%, BUT RENTS WENT UP 8.6%.

BOSTON, WAGES WENT DOWN 1% AND RANTS WENT UP 5.8%.

YOU ARE SEEING GAPS IN CINCINNATI, BUFFALO, CHICAGO.

PRETTY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES.

THAT AND SUB BEING WHAT CONSTITUENTS ARE FEELING.

THE PAIN THEY ARE FEELING HERE AT HOME.

KATIE: PUBLIC HOUSING IN PARTICULAR, THEY OFTEN HAVE INCOME RESTRICTIONS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE ALREADY AT THE LOWEST END OF THAT SPECTRUM.

ONE THING WE HEARD FROM SPEAKERS WAS, WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE ANY HOUSING UNIT IN THE STATE, PARTICULARLY ONES ALREADY DESIGNED FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE RESIDENTS WHO WOULD NOT NECESSARILY HAVE SOMEWHERE ELSE TO GO IF REPAIRS GET OUT OF HAND AND THEY ARE NOT LIVABLE ANYMORE.

THAT WAS THE THEME OF THE DAY.

TENANTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR OWN STORIES, DESCRIBED THEIR HOUSING SITUATIONS TO LAWMAKERS, WHO MIGHT NOT KNOW FIRSTHAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO LIVE IN A PUBLIC HOUSING UNIT THAT IS 30, 40 YEARS OLD OR LONGER AND HAS NOT SEEN MAJOR RENOVATIONS.

CRYSTAL: I KNOW WE HAVE SEEN IN HEADLINES ABOUT THE STATE OF DISREPAIR OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS ACROSS THE STATE, THAT BEING A BIG PROBLEM.

IT IS SOMETHING GOVERNOR HEALEY HAS TO DEAL WITH.

WE ALSO HEAR HOW WE COULD BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THE SITUATION BY CREATING MORE HOUSING STOCK.

I WONDER WHERE THAT PIECE OF THE CONVERSATION FALLS INTO THIS BILL AND FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING AT IT RIGHT NOW.

KATIE: THIS BILL HAS MEASURES IN IT AS WELL THAT ARE INTENDED TO SPUR NEW HOUSING PRODUCTION.

YOU HEAR THE GOVERNOR AND HER TEAM TALKING ABOUT BOTH ELEMENTS OF THAT, BUT IT IS NOT JUST ENOUGH TO BUILD OUR WAY.

IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE HOMES WE HAVE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION AND LIVABLE SO WE DO NOT LOSE THOSE.

WHEN IT COMES TO HOUSE -- HOUSING PRODUCTION, IN LAW APARTMENTS ARE ALSO THERE.

THERE ARE PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS.

AS YOU WOULD EXPECT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT $4 BILLION AND A HEFTY PIECE OF POLICY, THERE IS SOMETHING THAT TRIES TO GET AT THE SITUATION FROM VARIOUS ANGLES.

CRYSTAL: WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

KATIE: THE BILL IS AWAITING A VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

WE DON’T KNOW WHEN THAT WILL BE.

IT SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE SOON.

THERE WERE A FEW OTHER PIECES OF LEGISLATION THE HOUSE WANTED TO GET INTO BEFORE THEY TACKLE THIS.

IT COULD BE THE TRANSFER TAX DEBATE IS TAKING MORE TIME TO RESOLVE INTERNALLY, AND PUSHING THAT OFF THE ROAD MORE.

AFTER IT GOES TO THE HOUSE THE SENATE WILL TAKE A SWING AT REWRITING IT AND DEBATING IT.

IT IS POSSIBLE, AND WE ARE LIKELY TO END UP WITH A VERSION OF THIS ON THE GOVERNORS BILL THIS SUMMER, THEY COULD BE DIFFERENT FROM HOW SHE ORIGINALLY FILED IT.

CRYSTAL: WE WILL CHECK IN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

THANK YOU, KATIE LANNAN.

FINALLY TONIGHT, IF YOU HAVE NOT HEARD OF COMEDIAN CHRIS FLEMING, YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF HIS MOST FAMOUS ALTER EGO ON YOUTUBE, GAYLE WATERS-WATERS.

THAT IS A CHARACTER HE CREATED SEVERAL YEARS BACK BASED ON GROWING UP IN STOW.

THE TOWN AND ITS QUIRKS STILL PLAY A MAJOR ROLE IN HIS CAREER TODAY.

GBH NEWS’ TORI BEDFORD CAUGHT UP WITH HIM FOR A TOUR OF IT.

>> GET RID OF THE COUCHES.

TORI: CHRIS FLEMING STARTED HIS COMEDY CAREER ON YOUTUBE, PLAYING GAYLE WATERS-WATERS.

HE HAS DONE TWO COMEDY SPECIALS, VOICE ACTING IN ANIMATED SHOWS, AND A SOLD-OUT STAND UP TOWARDS, WHILE PRODUCING NEW CHARACTERS AND SONGS FOR HIS ONLINE CULT FOLLOWING.

IT ALL STARTED HERE IN HIS HOMETOWN OF STOW, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHRIS: THAT’S JAZZ.

MY DAD GOT ME A JOB HERE, I THINK ILLEGALLY, WHEN I WAS 11 OR 12.

THAT IS WHERE I WAS FIRED FROM -- FOR SUNBATHING.

TORI: THE MOTTO OF STOW, I THINK IS, A PLACE -- A GREAT PLACE TO GROW UP AND COME BACK TO.

CHRIS: THE SUBTEXT IS, YOU BETTER GET OUT AND YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE.

YOU COULD POWER A CITY WITH THE ANXIETY OF THE TOWN OF STOW.

THESE ARE THE WOODS OF "THE VVITCH."

YOU PUT SOME LOW STRINGS OVER THAT.

THAT WOULD BE "THE VVITCH."

THAT DOG IS NOT NATIVE TO MASSACHUSETTS.

A DINGO?

TORI: THERE IS NO DOG.

CHRIS: THERE WAS A WILD DOG.

I AM SUNDOWNING.

THIS PLACE DOES SING TO ME.

HELLO.

GOOD, HOW ARE YOU?

WE ARE JUST HEADING OUT.

IT LOOKS BEAUTIFUL, BETTER THAN I REMEMBER.

THANK YOU.

COME NOW.

LET’S GO.

BACK TO THE OPEN ROAD.

TORI: OH MY GOD.

HI, YOU ARE REAL.

CHRIS: HI, BEAUTIFUL.

TORI: YOU’RE NOT HAUNTED.

CHRIS: ARE YOU A WITCH?

A WHICH -- WITCH’S FAMILIAR?

THIS IS MY ALMA MATER, CLASS OF 2005.

JAZZ, MADRIGAL CHOIR, CLASS PRESIDENT.

TORI: YOU WERE POPULAR.

CHRIS: I WAS BUSY.

TORI: SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING A POPULAR KID WOULD SAY.

CHRIS: THERE IS PROBABLY A TERM FOR IT IN JAPANESE OR GERMAN.

TORI: IT STARTED IN STOW.

YOUR MOM INSPIRED THE CHARACTER A LITTLE BIT OF GY -- GAYLE.

YOU FIND A LOT OF ABSURD-ISM IN DAY-TO-DAY MUNDANE THINGS.

CHRIS: STOW IS SO QUIET, SO LITTLE GOING ON, BUT SUCH MASSIVE PERSONALITIES.

WE WERE FORCED TO BE CREATIVE AND THAT IS WHAT GAYLE IS.

TORI: A VERY FEAR MOTIVATED PERSON, SHE IS INTENSE.

WE HAVE SEEN HER SNORTING A LINE OF GRANOLA, FREAKING OUT WHEN COMPANY IS COMING.

WE HAVE SEEN HER FRAUGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

IS THAT A PERSON, A BUNCH OF PEOPLE, A CHARACTER HERE?

CHRIS: YEAH, SOME OF IT IS MY POINT OF VIEW, TOO.

BEING ABLE TO TALK -- COME ABOUT SAFELY THROUGH GAYLE’S PERSPECTIVE.

AFTER COLLEGE I MOVED HOME AND WAS SEEING IT WITH NEW EYES.

IT WAS MY PROCESSING OF IT.

THEY ARE COMING TO AIRLIFT US OUT.

WE BETTER KEEP MOVING.

WE HAVE TO TRIANGULATE.

I HEAR THIS HAPPENS ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS, PINECONES FALL.

THIS IS HOW WE ARE POSING.

TODAY HAPPENS TO BE THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.

MY DAD IS LOCKED IN HIS BEDROOM, PILLOW OVER HIS HEAD, WEARING THE GLASSES, FOR FEAR OF THE CLIPS.

BUT MY SISTER HAS JOINED US TODAY.

KATIE, COME IN.

1, 2, 3, 4, I DECLARE A THUMB WAR.

TORI: AMAZING.

DID YOU EVER THINK YOUR BROTHER WOULD BE THE BIG SHOT HE IS TODAY?

CHRIS: I’M A MEDIUM SHOT.

TORI: YOU HAVE A WIKIPEDIA PAGE.

KATIE: CHRIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN REALLY GOOD AT -- CHRIS: VOLLEYBALL.

KATIE: HE HAS BEEN GOOD AT HAVING A VISION AND FOLLOWING THROUGH EVEN WHEN THE PATH WAS NOT CLEAR.

CHRIS: AND SHE SUPPORTED ME BY LAUGHING TO HEARTED EVERYTHING I DID AS A CHILD.

TORI: YOU FELT THIS IMPERATIVE AND WERE SUPPORTED AND THAT HELPED YOU.

CHRIS: I WAS SO SUPPORTED BY STOW.

I AM STILL STRESSED IT LETTING STOW DOWN.

PEOPLE SAY HE WILL BE THE NEXT JAY LENO, CAROL BURNETT.

CAN’T LET THESE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED IN ME DOWN.

TORI: SHOULD WE STARE INTO THE SUN AND TALK ABOUT IT?

CHRIS: SURE.

TORI: DID YOU CHANGE ANYTHING?

CHRIS: I AM NOT GOING TO LOOK ANYMORE.

KATIE: IT IS SAFE.

CHRIS: I THINK I WILL DO IT WRONG.

TORI: YOU ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THIS AGAIN.

CHRIS: THAT IS BEAUTIFUL.

TORI: HOW DO YOU THINK TODAY WENT?

DO YOU FEEL WE REPRESENTED STOW WELL?

CHRIS: IMMACULATELY.

TORI: I THINK WE HAD ALL THE BIG SPOTS.

CHRIS: SAME TIME TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY.

TORI: WHAT HAPPENED?

CHRIS: THOSE ARE CRUCIAL, BECAUSE WHAT IF THIS DOES NOT STOP?

THE MOON GOT TIRED.

CRYSTAL: THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK TOMORROW.

PROSECUTORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE CRACKING DOWN ON THREATS ONLINE.

AN INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER HAS THE STORY.

PLUS, TWO GEN Z VOTERS ON HOW THE ECONOMY IS INFLUENCING THEIR PICK FOR PRESIDENT.

AND A LOOK AT BOSTON CALLING.

THAT AND MORE AT 7:00.

I’M CRYSTAL HAYNES.

GOOD NIGHT.

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