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Gov: Clerks must heed other gay wed bansBy Steve Marantz, BostonHerald.com from the Web, April 13, 2004 Boston -- Gov. Mitt Romney warned city and town clerks yesterday not to marry gay couples from states that ban same-sex marriage, hoping to ward off a slew of unions among out-of-towners in Provincetown. Romney indicated he is backing Attorney General Tom Reilly's interpretation that, when gay marriages start May 17, licenses may not be issued to gay couples from 38 states where gay marriage is specifically banned. ``We, in the administration, are taking every step to make sure we are in compliance with the law on May 17,'' Romney said. ``Clerks have the responsibility to fulfill the oaths of office.'' Provincetown officials have said they will issue licenses to out-of-state couples who sign a standard affidavit indicating that nothing prevents them from marrying in their own jurisdiction. Officials said they wouldn't check to see if applicants lied about their home-state regulations. Provincetown's legal counsel wrote that if state officials gave clerks a list of states that ban gay marriage, ``it might be somewhat more difficult . . . to justify issuance (of licenses).'' But town and city clerks say they have not yet received direction from the state Department of Public Health, which oversees marriage licenses. The head of the state clerks' association said members want to know how the law applies to same-sex couples from the 11 states that have not banned gay marriage. Neither Reilly nor Romney has addressed it. ``We're looking for clarification,'' said Sue Flood, Attleboro town clerk. Romney said clerks ``most likely'' will receive training from the DPH. ``We'll be having a session to train the clerks . . . and provide people with the information they need,'' Romney said. Romney indicated he hasn't found a way to stop gay marriages, because Reilly wouldn't take his case for stalling the unions to the Supreme Judicial Court. ``I really don't have anything to say about the various options which we're considering at this point,'' the governor said. The Democratic Reilly is seen as a potential 2006 challenger to Romney. (Emphasis added.)
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