Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2004)
18 may 21.2004 \ '( i n h w VNt X « >rt I m e s t rTiTTrom X ’o r i liw e s t \ i » ri l i u c s i \ ( h i hw o s i n e w s X ’< >rt I m e s t H ere C ome the B rides - and G rooms Massachusetts finally issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples by Bob R oeh r T he celebration of same-sex mar riage in Massachusetts began at Cambridge C ity Hall on the evening of May 16 with cakes, cho ruses and flowers galore. A t the stroke of midnight, local residents Marcia Hams, 57, and Susan Shepherd, 52, began to fill out their application to become the state’s first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license. They have been together for 27 years and plan a church wedding May 23. Tanya McCloskey, 52, and Marcia Kadish, 56, became the first to get a waiver o f the three- day waiting period and officially wed at 9:15 a.m. in Cambridge City Hall. T he first three licenses in Boston were reserved for plaintiffs in the Goodridge vs. Depart ment of Public Health case, which found the ban on same-sex marriage to be discriminatory. Thou sands of other couples across the state obtained their own marriage licenses that first day. “Today is a day for congratulations, toasts and well wishes, and cake. And an extras slice of jus tice,” The Boston G lobe wrote in its lead editorial. And by and large the state agreed; even opponents of same-sex marriage seemed to be gracious in the days leading up to the historic event. However, that did not mean they had embraced same-sex marriage. The bishops of the Episcopal Church, one of the more supportive major denominations in Mass achusetts, reminded their priests that while the church allows them to conduct blessings of unions, it does not allow for marriage of same-sex couples. “W e are watching the iron curtain against gay couples beginning to crumble,” said Arline Isaacson of the Massachusetts Gay and Lesbian Political Caucus. Log Cabin Republicans executive director Patrick Guerriero, who was in Cambridge City Hall at midnight, said: “Today hundreds of loving, law-abiding couples in Massachusetts will accept the responsibilities of caring for each other for life, through the granting of civil marriage licenses. We hope that the people of this great country will see these couples here in Massachusetts and understand that this is part of the struggle to Strengthen, not weaken, the American family.” ; r n ew s ph o to s by marilyn h u m ph ries / bay w in d o w s Julie and Hillary Goodridge with their daughter, Annie, apply for their license at Boston City Hall while activist Mary Bonauto and Mayor Tom Menino look on N atural B o rn P s y c h ic M T ells p a s t , p r e s e n t , f u t u r e , e n t io n t h is a d FOR } 2 0 LO V E, M ARRIA G E, BUSINESS 816 NW 23rd Avenue Portland, O R 97210 Ph/Fx: (503) 295-7965 www.turkishimports.net C a r p e t s. K i l i m s a m i m o r e D ISC O U N T ON PALM READINGS C o m e in t o d a y FOR A BRIGH TER H elps & a d v is e s o n TO M O R RO W ALL M AN N ERS O F LIFE. P alm ■ P sychic * T 530 ' N W 23 K n L — mm Si ( arc .1T C ar 503 ) 222-5501 \l I I O F A ITP I \ I M l \ I Up I jgBW« I
