18
may 21.2004
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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
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