Today marks eight years since Massachusetts became the first state to successfully pass a marriage equality bill, allowing same-sex couples the same rights as heterosexual couples. Since that celebratory day on May 17, 2004, 18,462 same-sex couples have said “I do.”
The law was made as result to the ruling of Goodridge v. Department of Public Health, which deemed marriage discrimination to same-sex couples unconstitutional in the state, after seven couples successfully argued their case.
The historical ruling on November 18, 2003 followed, saying that the state may not “deny the protections, benefits and obligations conferred by civil marriage to two individuals of the same sex who wish to marry,” giving the Massachusetts Legislature 180 days to take action deemed appropriate.
Governor Mitt Romney (irony!) ordered town clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses on May 17, 2004.
Massachusetts normally has a three-day waiting period before issuing marriage licenses, but many couples obtained waivers of the waiting period in order to be wed on May 17. Among these were the seven couples who were party to the lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriage.
In the eight years since, eight other states, plus the District of Columbia, have followed suit, while Rhode Island and New Mexico have begun recognizing marriages of LGBT couples performed out of state and multiple others are currently pushing legislation or placing it on November’s ballot.
“That all this has occurred in less than a decade speaks to the power of the honest conversation that is taking place across America as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender residents come out to their friends, family, and neighbors,” says MassEquality Executive Director Kara Suffredini, Esq.
“In the eight years that same-sex couples have been marrying in Massachusetts, we have learned that our communities are safer, happier, and healthier when all families are respected, supported and celebrated. As time goes on and even larger majorities of Americans come to support marriage equality, we look forward to the day when all Americans can enjoy the freedom to marry.”
Photo: wgbh.org
