MA House Moves to Redefine Marriage in Other States; Defies Goodridge Decision
Tuesday July 29, 2008 - 04:04 AM
In a move that directly defies the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision which created same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, the House voted to allow out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts.
"This legislature picks and chooses like a cafeteria buffet what areas of the Goodridge decision it will embrace," said Kris Mineau, president, Massachusetts Family Institute referring to Justice Greaney's opinion, which states that the 1913 law upholds states' rights by precluding persons in other states from obtaining marriage recognition that is otherwise unlawful.
Massachusetts Family Institute
Media Release
For immediate release
July 29, 2008
Contact: Lisa Barstow (617) 480-1719 | lisa@barstowcom.com
MA House Defies goodridge Decision;
moves to redefine marriage in other states
Woburn, MA - In a move that directly defies the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) decision which created same-sex marriage in Massachusetts, the House voted to allow out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in Massachusetts.
"This legislature picks and chooses like a cafeteria buffet what areas of the Goodridge decision it will embrace," said Kris Mineau, president, Massachusetts Family Institute referring to Justice Greaney's opinion, which states that the 1913 law upholds states' rights by precluding persons in other states from obtaining marriage recognition that is otherwise unlawful.
With that protective barrier removed, out-of-state same-sex couples who marry here will sue to seek recognition in their home states-creating a flood of costly lawsuits and further eroding the people's right to define marriage democratically. It also puts so-called "gay divorce" in question as same-sex couples face a legal limbo when seeking to dissolve their Massachusetts marriages in their home states which have not recognized them.
Dubbed falsely by same-sex marriage activists as a law with a racial bias, the SJC in 2006 ruled that the 1913 law was not racially motivated. It was written to create uniform marriage standards and uphold states rights to set their own parameters on the institution of marriage.
"Massachusetts legislators voted to abolish a ban on interracial marriage in 1843-a full seventy years before the 1913 law was written," said Mr. Mineau, "Race was not a factor-if it were, I would support this repeal."
"Now, just after California allowed out-of-state same-sex couples to marry, it appears our legislators are suffering from 'gay marriage envy' in pushing to repeal this protective measure," said Mineau. "But their arrogance and folly are doing terrible harm to marriage laws across the country and eroding the people's right to define marriage."
# # #
