Mass. Repeals Ban on Non-Resident Gay Marriage
BOSTON, MA – The Massachusetts house voted to repeal a law that banned non-resident gay couples from legally marrying in their state.
The 1913 law voided any marriage performed in Massachusetts that was not a legal union in the couple’s state of residency. The house voted it down by a count of 118-35. The senate voted for the appeal earlier in the month, and the bill will now pass on to Gov. Deval Patrick who pledged to sign it within the next week.
Marc Solomon, the executive director of MassEquality said the 1913 law was “the last vestige of discrimination in our state marriage laws against same-sex couples.”
The law was originally legislated to prevent out-of-state interracial couples from marrying in Massachusetts for fear it would create problems within the couples’ home states. Legislators against the repeal of the law utilized the same argument.
“It’s ironic because that’s the exact same language the proponents of the 1913 law used,” said Solomon. "I think history has shown what a poor argument that is, and I think there's a real sense of pride that we were first.”
Solomon said that overall the legislation has gone smoothly. “The message is that people in Massachusetts, as represented by their state legislators, are fine with gay marriage.”
More News From www.outinasheville.com