Massachusetts: The Gay Las Vegas?

Well, not yet. But the recent ruling by a New York court prevents gay New York couples from coming to Massachusetts to get married.

A New York court’s ruling that same-sex couples can’t legally marry in that state shuts the door on gay couples there who wish to come to Massachusetts to marry, but it may not affect those who already received marriage licenses here, according to an attorney for out-of-state gay couples.

Michele Granda of Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders said gay marriage wasn’t expressly prohibited in New York when same-sex marriages began in Massachusetts in 2004, so her group considers at least 170 New York couples who received marriage licenses here before Thursday legally married.

New York’s highest court ruled Thursday that state law limits marriage to between a man and a woman. The ruling said lawmakers have a legitimate interest in protecting children by limiting marriage to heterosexual couples.

Matt Margolis is co-author (with Mark Noonan) of Caucus of Corruption: The Truth About The New Democratic Majority. He also blogs at The Buffalo Bean. Follow Matt on Twitter.

One Response to “Massachusetts: The Gay Las Vegas?”

1. obi juan says:

   July 9, 2006 at 11:31 pm

   Call me crazy but, why can’t the gay marriage folks submit their own amendment that allows for gay marriage? Seems to be the same process that everyone else has to go throw.