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Gay couples wed legally in Massachusetts By SHARON WATERS, Home News Tribune, May 18, 2004 EDISON, NJ -- Gays and lesbians by the dozens exchanged vows and were pronounced "partners for life" yesterday in Massachusetts, but two area men took a wait-and-see stance rather than head for Boston to get married.
Edison resident John Campbell said yesterday he was thrilled by the first state-recognized same-sex marriages in Massachusetts. "It's great. It's what we've been anticipating," said Campbell, referring to his partner of 17 years, Richard Harrison. But Campbell and Harrison put on hold their plans to travel north to obtain a marriage license after hearing they would have to certify that they planned to move to Massachusetts. Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has referenced a 1913 law that only Massachusetts residents can receive marriage licenses. Any marriage of nonresident gay couples would be null and void because same-sex marriage is prohibited in the rest of the nation, the Republican governor has said. Campbell and Harrison would rather wait until that glitch is resolved before heading to Massachusetts. "We were intending to go up there this week," said Campbell . "But we're going to patiently wait until there's no question about the legal status." Campbell said he and his partner could wait because they entered a civil union in Vermont in 2002. "We don't have to panic until we can get it (a marriage) legalized somewhere," said Campbell. The nuptials in Boston yesterday ranged from quick City Hall ceremonies to ornate weddings in downtown churches, complete with champagne and fancy cakes. Among the touches: matching orange bow ties, rainbow flags and confetti, the Boston Gay Men's Chorus singing "Marry Us," and a special rendition of "Here Come the Brides." The Massachusetts couples are entitled to hundreds of rights under state law, such as health insurance, hospital visitation and inheritance rights. But couples still lack federal rights because federal law defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Fewer than a half-dozen countries allow same-sex couples to marry. The Netherlands, Belgium, and Canada's three most-populous provinces are among the only places in the world where gays can marry. A few protesters showed up in Massachusetts , but some conservative leaders expressed outrage. President Bush renewed his call for Congress to pass a constitutional amendment banning gay marriages nationwide. Bush and presumptive Democratic candidate Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., both oppose gay marriage, but Kerry supports civil unions. For all the jubilation, the hundreds of couples who received licenses still confront uncertainty, perhaps lasting years. Massachusetts lawmakers have taken initial steps toward letting voters decide in 2006 whether to ban same-sex marriages and instead define such partnerships as civil unions. It is not known how the marriages that occur between now and 2006 will be recognized if the ban occurs. And even though the proposed federal amendment is considered a long shot, many states are trying to ensure -- in the face of expected lawsuits -- that they will not have to recognize gay marriages from Massachusetts or any other state. Among the first to marry, under a rainbow flag at a Boston church with the Boston Gay Men's Chorus, were Robert Compton and David Wilson. They were one of the seven couples whose lawsuit prompted the state high court to rule in favor of gay marriage in its landmark November decision. Compton called it "a journey that seems like a million miles with a million speed bumps."
Contributing: The Associated Press |
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