As news that the state Senate will consider repealing a 1913 law that bans out-of-state gay couples from being married in the Bay State broke this week, state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston) was out in front, leading the charge.

[img_assist|nid=339|title=State Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston)|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=130|height=152]Bay Windows called Wilkerson the “champion” of the legislation and the senator appeared yesterday on NECN to discuss the bill, which she predicted will come to a vote next Tuesday.

“We rely on Dianne as one of the most important leaders in the state house,” Marc Solomon, campaign director at MassEquality, told PolitickerMA.com Friday. “She has a strong moral authority when she speaks on issues and she’s extremely effective on moving legislation in the senate.”

There is no reason to question Wilkerson’s dedication to repealing the law, but there is also no question that championing the issue now, while she is facing her second primary challenge from Sonia Chang-Diaz in as many election cycles, is tremendously advantageous to the senator politically for several reasons.

“This is a smart move by Wilkerson,” said Warren Tolman, a former state Senator and Democratic strategist. “It proves that she’s effective in the Senate.”

The 1913 law prevents gay couples that are not Massachusetts residents from coming to the Bay State to get married. The marriages of out-of-state gay couples that do marry in Massachusetts, under the law, would not recognized in their state of residence.

Wilkerson’s work on the legislation shows that she is a fighter for legislation that is important to her district, which has a large gay constituency. “This is a pretty straightforward way to get her out in a positive way,” said Seth Gitell, a political analyst and author of Gitell.com. “She needed to do something for the part of her base that is white, progressive and gay. Her support of this law is an effective way of doing that.”

Perhaps more importantly, the Wilkerson’s support move could bolster Wilkerson’s field operation, which has been notoriously flimsy. Most notably, Wilkerson failed to garner the requisite number of signatures to appear on the ballot in 2006, opening the door for Chang-Diaz’s first challenge.

By supporting this measure, MassEquality and other gay political groups will undoubtedly work for her campaign this cycle. “We will mobilize our membership,” Solomon said. “We have literally thousands of members in her district. We will encourage our members to play a very active role, meaning to volunteer, to contribute and to do all the things you need to in a campaign.”

It could also help fill Wilkerson’s campaign coffers. Solomon acknowledged he has already hosted a fundraiser Wilkerson and will encourage the members of MassEquality to donate to her.

The publicity of the bill and the vote next week will also drive a wedge between Wilkerson and Chang-Diaz not over their position on the issue (I am a huge supporter of repealing the 1913 law,” Chang-Diaz told PolitickerMA.com. “I think it’s long overdue. I am really glad the legislature is picking it up.”), but simply because Wilkerson is already working in the legislature and Chang-Diaz isn’t.

“They have identical views on gay marriage,” said Dan Winslow, a GOP strategist. “I really don’t see it as a distinction at all other than it shows Wilkerson has a pulpit and Chang-Diaz hopes to.”