Massachusetts Set to Export Marriage Licenses

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Special Report - July 31, 2008
It appears that homosexual couples from other states will soon be able to get “married” in Massachusetts, opening the door wider for possible legal challenges to the marriage laws of other states. On July 29, the Massachusetts House voted 119 to 36 to repeal a 1913 law that bans the state from issuing a marriage license to a couple if the “marriage” would be invalid in the couple’s home state. The law has been used to block the same-sex unions of nonresidents who traveled to Massachusetts to get “married.” The Massachusetts Senate approved the repeal on July 15. Reportedly, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has indicated his support for the legislation and will sign it into law. Once this happens, Massachusetts will become the only other state in the nation besides California to issue same-sex marriage licenses to non-residents.

“With that protective barrier removed, out-of-state same-sex couples who marry here will sue to seek recognition in their home states, creating a flood of costly lawsuits and further eroding the people’s right to define marriage democratically,” the Massachusetts Family Institute warned in a statement.