Same-sex “marriage” was legalized in Massachusetts May 17, marking the first time in U.S. history that a state issued marriage licenses to homosexual couples.
The action was a direct result of a controversial court ruling from last November, when in a 4–3 decision the Massachusetts’ high court said the state’s marriage laws violated the state constitution. The court stayed its decision for 180 days.
Same-sex couples hope that the marriage licenses will help legitimatize homosexuality in America. Conservatives and traditionalists fear that the licenses will be used in federal court to legalize same-sex “marriage” nationally.
“The sacred institution of marriage,” President Bush said in a statement issued by the White House, “should not be redefined by a few activist judges. All Americans have a right to be heard in this debate. I called on the Congress to pass and to send to the states for ratification an amendment to our Constitution defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and a woman as husband and wife. The need for that amendment is still urgent, and I repeat that call today.”
“Years from now, we hope this won’t be a big deal,” Joan Williams, who received a marriage license in Northampton, Mass., told the Associated Press. “But to us, today is a big deal. This is just a legal affirmation and protection for our family.”
A new poll conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide for the Alliance for Marriage may support Bush’s stance. It showed that 67 percent of Americans favor the Federal Marriage Amendment currently before the Senate. Incredibly, 57 percent say they “strongly” favor it. The poll of 1,000 adults was conducted in April.
Tanya McCloskey, 52, and Marcia Kadish, 56 — two Massachusetts residents — may have been the first to exchange vows. At 9:15 a.m. Eastern time, a Cambridge city clerk told them: “I now pronounce you married under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.”
Chris McCary, 43, and John Sullivan, 37 — both of Alabama — also received a marriage license.
“This is the most important day of my life,” McCary told the AP.
Pro-family leaders warn that without a marriage amendment to the U.S. Constitution, such ceremonies eventually will be performed nationwide.
Same-sex “marriage” supporters hope to use the licenses in federal court to try and strike down the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which gives states the option of not recognizing another state’s same-sex “marriages.” At least 38 states have “mini” defense of marriage acts explicitly banning same-sex “marriage.”
Jay Sekulow, chief counsel for the American Center for Law and Justice, said he believes that lawsuits in 30–40 states could be filed by the end of the summer, seeking to legalize same-sex “marriage” nationwide.
“There is going to be mass litigation, which is going to equate to mass confusion,” Sekulow said on his radio program. “If there was ever a time for congressional action, this is it.”
Although Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney had said couples should sign a form swearing they were state residents or that they were moving to the state, clerks in Provincetown and other localities were giving marriage licenses to out-of-state couples. (BP)
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