In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set || First feminist blog on the internet

Massachusetts to Allow Nonresident Gay Marriages!

Habladora

According to NPR’s Morning Edition:

In Massachusetts, the Senate has voted to repeal an old law that has been used to keep out-of-state couples from marrying in the state. The law prohibits couples from getting marriage licenses if they can’t legally wed in their home states. Gay and lesbian couples from across the nation may soon be able to get married in Massachusetts.

The century-old law that this vote could help repeal was initially instated as a measure aimed at preventing interracial marriages, according to Marc Solomon of MassEquality.  Now, once the Massachusetts House votes on the issue and the new law is signed by Governor Deval Patrick, Massachusetts could become a popular wedding destination for gay couples whose states of residence still haven’t legalized same-sex marriage.  Since Massachusetts has already withstood  an attempt to ban same-sex marriage, it might become an even more tempting wedding destination than California, which will face such a vote this fall.  This new popularity could even translate into a substantial boost for Massachusetts’s economy. See, sometimes being good really does pay off!

Congratulations, Massachusetts!  Here’s hoping lots of states follow in your footsteps!

9 thoughts on Massachusetts to Allow Nonresident Gay Marriages!

  1. I would think that even Mass’s gay-haters would applaud this decision. Now, same-sex couples won’t have to move to Massachusetts to get married — they can just visit and then go the hell home.

    Also, you know who needs to be next? VEGAS.

  2. The importance of this has been largely missed. The Times noted it, but didn’t emphasize it. This is effectively marriage equality in New York through the back door. New York recently recognized same sex marriages from other states, though we won’t issue the license here. California will marry out-of-state couples, but that’s a long way off. Massacussets, which is nearby, would not marry NY couples because NY would not solemnize the union. But with this change, a NY couple can marry in Mass and have the reception here, or marry and party there though they live here, and have full legal married status in NY. Since Massachussets is close, even folks of limited means may be able to get themselves to Mass for a wedding and get the legal protections thereof here.

  5. Jesurgislac, good. I hope they go to sleep tonight knowing that the most populous state on each ocean coast effectively has full legal marriage rights available to all of their citizens regardless of sexual orientation. I hope they know that, long though the battle may be, they are inexorably losing out to full legal and social equality; that they lost sodomy laws, that they are losing discrimination in jobs and housing company by company and city by city, and that the tide has turned on marriage.

  6. Oh, with the new law where NY respects gay marriages from other states, you just KNOW every couple is gonna drive up to Boston, get married, and drive straight back for their reception. AWESOME.

    The NYT actually had a front page piece attributing this partly to Massachusetts’ desire for some nice wedding industry revenues. Fine with me as long as it gets done.

  8. man, i love it when my state finally does the right thing. go MA!

    and yeah, sailorman, – CHA-CHING, BABY! slow economy what? welcome to the wedding state!

  9. Way to go, Mass!

    I’m as stoked as everybody else, but I was a little turned off by the NYT article’s emphasis on the economic benefits. i know it’s a good argument that we should use, and one that is undoubtedly playing a part. But it feels like bad strategy to me: if good policies only get put in place because of perceived benefits, what happens if the benefits don’t materialize? Or in places that don’t have that same potential for an economic boost from it? And I guess I’m just naive enough to want to believe that people do the right things because they’re the right things.

Comments are currently closed.