Massachusetts Court: Homosexual 'Marriages' -- Not 'Civil Unions' -- Must Be Allowed
February 4, 2004
(AgapePress) - The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts is clearing the way for the nation's first same-sex "marriages" to take place in the state as soon as mid-May.
The court ruled today that civil unions are not good enough -- that in order to satisfy the state constitution, homosexual couples must have access to full, equal marriages rights. The high court's opinion comes in response to a request from the State Senate about whether civil unions -- like those allowed in Vermont -- would be enough.
The court had ruled in November that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry. It then gave the Massachusetts legislature six months to change the laws and allow that to happen. At a constitutional convention next week, the legislature will consider an amendment that would legally define marriage as a union between one man and one woman -- but that process could take time.
Because of today's ruling, the issue of homosexual marriage is likely to emerge as a major campaign issue elections later this year. Current Democratic frontrunner John Kerry, who is from Massachusetts, is on record as supporting civil unions for same-sex couples, but he has not endorsed homosexual marriage.
President Bush opposes same-sex unions and has indicated, as he did during his State of the Union address in January, that he would support a constitutional amendment to ban homosexual marriage if that is what it takes to stop what he called "activist judges" from "redefining marriage by court order." Pro-family groups are saying -- as they did in January and long before then -- that now is the time for such an amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
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