Gay Marriage in Massachusetts

On July 31, 2008, Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts signed a bill which repealed the 1913 law which until now had prevented many same-sex couples from marrying in Massachusetts.

This law prohibited anyone from marrying in Massachusetts if that marriage would not be recognized in their home state. The state house and senate recently passed this bill to repeal the 1913 law. This bill was unusual in at least two respects:

• most legislation passed in Massachusetts does not take effect for 90 days, giving the voters time to call for a referendum on the bill. This process was circumvented in this case (see http://citizenlink.org/content/A000007917.cfm)
  
• the bill granted medicaid benefits to same-sex couples in Massachusetts. Because Federal law does not give benefits to same-sex couples, the benefits will be paid from from state funds. (See http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/us/01brfs-SAMESEXCOUPL_BRF.html?ref=us)