BOSTON, July 29, 2008
Mass. To Welcome Out-Of-State Gay Weds
State Lawmakers Vote To Allow Gay Marriages Involving Out-Of-State Couples
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Photo
(AP / CBS)
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Photo Essay
Married In Massachusetts
Couples exchange vows in the nation's first state-sanctioned same-sex weddings.
The 118-35 vote came after the state Senate voted for the repeal earlier this month, and Gov. Deval Patrick has said he will sign the bill. The measure required one more procedural vote in each chamber before being forwarded to the governor.
"Sometimes what you hope and pray for actually happens, which is kind of overwhelming," Michael Thorne, 55, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, said after telling his 6-year-old son his parents could soon get married. Thorne and his partner of 25 years, James Theberge, have an Aug. 18 wedding planned in Provincetown.
Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay marriage in 2004, but then-Gov. Mitt Romney ordered city and town clerks to enforce the long-dormant 1913 law to bar out-of-state same-sex couples from marrying. The law prohibits couples from marrying if the unions would be illegal in their home states.
Romney had argued that repealing the ban would turn the state into the "Las Vegas of gay marriage." Since then, however, another state — California — has begun allowing same-sex marriages.
Some proponents say that repealing the law would allow Massachusetts to share in some of the economic boon California is enjoying. Patrick and other supporters of repeal also argued that the old law carried racial undertones from a time when interracial marriage was discouraged or illegal in some states.
Opponents said the reasons the 1913 law was passed are unclear, and that repealing the ban amounted to meddling in the affairs of other states.
Rep. John Lepper, R-Attleboro, said sanctioning a marriage that is illegal elsewhere would "create a relationship and then set it adrift to settle in a disapproving state."
He spoke of a gay couple from Rhode Island that married in Massachusetts and now is seeking a divorce, saying it was typical of the "legal nightmare" a repeal would create.
"They can't divorce in Rhode Island because the law does not recognize (the marriage)," Lepper said. "They can't divorce in Massachusetts because there is a one-year residency requirement for filing."
The repeal effort passed after a relatively quick, 40-minute House debate free of the massive protests that accompanied other gay marriage debates in the state. Only seven legislators spoke on the issue, four in favor of the repeal, three who wanted to maintain the ban.
Rep. Byron Rushing, D-Boston, said continuing to ban out-of-state gays from marrying was unfair after the state's highest court ruled in 2003 that gay and lesbian couples have a constitutional right to be married.
"This is question of fairness, and it is a question of equity," Rushing said.
Rushing said the 1913 law undoubtedly has not been applied in many cases of marriages by first cousins. Massachusetts allows first cousins to marry, but half the states in the country do not.
"The fairness in this question is that we have allowed people to marry in Massachusetts who could not legally marry in their own state for decades, and now we want to change our way we are applying a bit of law we have never enforced. That, I think, is unfair," Rushing said.
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See all 78 CommentsNot quite right, what happens in Massachusetts will not stay in Massachusetts.
Time to buy stock in Astro-Glide!
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Posted by lilturkey at 05:33 PM : Jul 29, 2008
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Well it sure in hell isn''t an attribute.....
A. The dumpster behind the Duke University Medical Center.
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Posted by spadeisspade at 07:12 PM : Jul 29, 2008
This has nothing to do with race......people are born black, white, whatever......homosexuality is behavior that is chosen, and therefore are accountable for. This is why they will argue that this is the same as the race segregation thing, so bozos like you will believe it.
This is not about hatred.....it is about what is right and wrong. If everybody is ''right'', then nobody is wrong.......and that is laughable.
We have clamored to get God and His words out of government buildings, out of schools, out of marriages, out of churches, out of homes, out of television, out out out! And God, being the gentleman that He is, will withdraw when He is unwanted.
Now we are about to find out what life is like without God. It is already beginning to happen. Violence in schools as students with dark thoughts blow eachother away. Government going to the dogs without God to guide. Financial markets with the bottoms dropping out......etc. etc.
This is what you asked for.....and now you are getting it.
We have clamored to get God and His words out of government buildings, out of schools, out of marriages, out of churches, out of homes, out of television, out out out! And God, being the gentleman that He is, will withdraw when He is unwanted.
Now we are about to find out what life is like without God. It is already beginning to happen. Violence in schools as students with dark thoughts blow eachother away. Government going to the dogs without God to guide. Financial markets with the bottoms dropping out......etc. etc.
This is what you asked for.....and now you are getting it.
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We have had God in government for the past 7 years with the Evangelical choice in President Bush. The problem with schools is much deeper than God. If you want God, GO TO CHURCH..religion has no place in a public environment. Not everyone in this country is Christian. As a teacher I have students who are Atheists, Christians, Jews, Muslims..if we are forced to cater to one religion then we have to include ALL. We have a moment of silence at the beg. of each day if kids want to pray, we also have student Christian clubs, therefore, i don''t know what you are talking about. The problem with our schools is much greater than "God" it''s lack of funds, like of parental involvement, unqualified teachers..etc I could go on...
This has nothing to do with race......people are born black, white, whatever......homosexuality is behavior that is chosen, and therefore are accountable for. This is why they will argue that this is the same as the race segregation thing, so bozos like you will believe it.
This is not about hatred.....it is about what is right and wrong. If everybody is ''''right'''', then nobody is wrong.......and that is laughable.
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When did you chose to be straight? When did you consciously wake up and decide "Hey, I could be gay but being straight is more natural"? WHEN?! It is not a choice and it may not me completely biological (Who knows for sure, eventually we will know)yet my brother is gay and it was NOT NOT NOT a choice. I am so sick to death of hearing that! Who would chose to be hated, discriminated against, beaten, killed, refused employment, ridiculed, verbally assaulted, denied basic rights, pay taxes to a country, die for a country that treats you like a 2nd class citizen..essentially be the last minority in the country that can legally and popularly mistreated? No sir. It is not a choice. If it were, is this not the land of the free? Is this not America where ALL are created equal? This is such a ridiculous, petty, ignorance driven opinion and one day I hope America will realize what we have done to our fellow citizens and truly live up to the promise of freedom for all.
Why bother?? just take the LICENSE FEES, marry them and let them deal with the fact their new license is invalid in their home states. Seems like yet another way for city and county govt to fleece the dumb sheeple of America with more fees for things they use or can''t use or don''t use.
Posted by noseonurface
NAH, its NEVER about hate RIGHT?? the history of your corrupt church proves otherwise.
Marriage was a scheme devised by MAN to fleece license fees, control property, minor children, estates, real estate, alimony, child payments, inheritance and taxes.
If your version of *** dislikes this so much then he/she/it can wave the magic wand and let it be CLEARLY known, the fact this doesn''t occur says a lot.
So much for the end-time bibull thumpers theories!
LOL!
Why bother?? just take the LICENSE FEES, marry them and let them deal with the fact their new license is invalid in their home states.
That''s exactly what they''re looking for. With those licenses they can challenge home state laws and gradually chip away at them using the huge financial resources the homosexual movement has in this country. I''m afraid the only solution is to get downright talibanstic on their *****.
Posted by jmurrieta1 at 08:07 PM : Jul 29, 2008
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LOL!
That''s why I''m voting for it here in CA this November.
When it passes... guess what...
...I will still be able to marry a woman like every other hetero in this state!
Again... so much for the bibull thumpers theories!
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Posted by rimbaud1970 at 08:15 PM : Jul 29, 2008
I am truly sorry about your brother. The truth is, we are all born as fallen men, sinful men, so in that sense, yes, he is born that way. That behavior is of the natural, sinful man, and must be repented of if he is ever to know life.
If your version of *** dislikes this so much then he/she/it can wave the magic wand and let it be CLEARLY known, the fact this doesn''''t occur says a lot.
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Posted by newster1 at 08:27 PM : Jul 29, 2008
Ah....so it is the money you''re concerned about...that''s what I thought.
God has already made it abundantly clear.
Posted by rimbaud1970
Simple.....round peg goes in the round hole.....no matter what you do.....you can''t get the round peg in the square hole.....it really doesn''t take a brain surgeon to get this one. Lust is the only thing that is never fulllllll.....it can always find something else to lust after.....it is never satisfied....that is where the desire of homosexuals comes from.
Marriage was a scheme devised by MAN to fleece license fees
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This is one of the truest posts on here---just substitute GOVERNMENT for MAN. Up until the middle ages, marriage was a private contract between 2 people or the families of 2 people. Marriage licenses began to be issued in the middle ages to allow a marriage which would otherwise be illegal (based on Church "laws"--- usually the fact that notice could not be posted for 3 weeks). Marriage licenses were granted by church officials. Governments got involved because they saw it as a way to make money for themselves instead of letting the church have it all.
The solution is for governments to get back out of the marriage licensing business.
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Posted by s57g67L at 09:05 PM : Jul 29, 2008
Read between the lines.....this is not about marriage licenses.....it is about what Marriage Is in the first place. If marriage is just about a contract.....yea, government is going to get involved....and I agree, they should butt out....they have no business being involved in what belongs to the Church.....this is not state business.
We look and then the next time, it won''t be so shocking, and the next time, and so on, until this behavior becomes quite the ordinary. Except for one thing.....God has not changed His opinion or His judgement about what this is. He corrects those He loves, just like a parent will correct a child for playing on the freeway because of love.....and it is dangerous to play on the freeway.
Way to go Massachusetts! Woohoo!
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Posted by Hedonist3 at 10:02 PM : Jul 29, 2008
Let''s just say I am glad you are somebody else''s grandmother....and keep your judgements to yourself granny.
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Posted by mensarino
God has the lock on the truth!
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Posted by Hedonist3 at 10:02 PM : Jul 29, 2008
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I am a straight grandmother and I agree. I think that those folks have never really read the Bible in the first place, and in the second place, that is their religion, not anyone elses. Everyone has their own spiritual connection, and that is not to be questioned by men. If they really believe in this punishing God, they he will take care of it in his own time, not theirs. They just need to mind their own back yards and quit hanging over their neighbors fence.
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Posted by noseonurface at 12:07 AM : Jul 30, 2008
+ report abuse
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Maybe, but you don''t.
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Gosh, these just sound like horrible people. Together for 25 years and have a son. These are the real people that the bigots harm. Real people with real families that love each other. It is a sick world when people use God as an excuse to hurt people like this.
We look and then the next time, it won''''t be so shocking, and the next time, and so on, until this behavior becomes quite the ordinary. Except for one thing.....God has not changed His opinion or His judgement about what this is. He corrects those He loves, just like a parent will correct a child for playing on the freeway because of love.....and it is dangerous to play on the freeway.
James Madison, the fourth President--known as %u201CThe Father of Our Constitution,%u201D said,
%u201CWe have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God.%u201D
Posted by hermitdave at 12:38 AM : Jul 30, 2008
.............
Well, at least they were adult guys!
(So that means Jesus was not a Catholic).
:-)
Posted by kansas1946 at 12:36 AM
Good point, but that''s the neocon agenda for ya.
Posted by formrusmcsgt at 10:44 PM : Jul 29, 2008
Both sides of this issue take notice:
As of this moment, there are no Mass. fires, earthquakes, floods or other disasters as in California.
Let the experiment begin.
On a serious note, This ought to bring in some extra money during this recession, going on depression.
Its a smart business decision.
Posted by AmJoe
Civil rights are not up to a vote. If people were allowed to vote on slavery in 1865, they would have kept it overwhelmingly. Sometimes, people have to be hauled into the future, kicking and screaming.
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