What a wonderful day! Thank you all for sharing this occasion and helping to make it truly unforgettable! We've posted some pictures with more to come. (The web site will be up until the end of the year)
On November 18th, 2003, the Massachusetts Supreme Court issued a ruling instructing the Commonwealth not to discriminate against same-sex couples seeking marriage. This ruling allows us to become legally married in Massachusetts. To celebrate this historic ruling and to celebrate our lives together, we have chosen to marry each other on the anniversary of the day we met 23 years ago.
New?
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Kayaks 2-4pm!
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Pictures from our May 17th visit to Town Hall in the photo album.
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You've been asking, click here for some answers we posted on our "Other Info" page.
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Don's 30 days to marriage countdown blog. (at the bottom of the other info page)
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The United States Supreme Court refused to grant an injunction, Gay Marriage is a go in Massachusetts starting Monday May 17th. We are living in historic times.
We hope you will be able to join us for a very fun day at the beach. Click here for the day's events. We will take our vows on the beach in front of our house and then the party will begin!
We are so happy and excited that we finally have the opportunity to publicly and legally express our love and commitment in a marriage ceremony. It means even more to us to be able to share the joy with our family and friends.
Set aside your ideas of traditional weddings, this event will not be following the norms. This day will be an experience and a party to remember forever!
Check out these links:
Full Text of The Massachusetts Supreme Court Decision
The Freedom to Marry Coalition Web Site
Human Rights Campaign Website
What is Legal Marriage?
Legal marriage is a civil contract established through a license issued by state governments in the United States of America. Legal marriage, more commonly referred to as civil marriage, is a contract between two individuals and the state, which is recognized socially, legally and politically at all levels of society.
Civil marriage has no impact on a religious organization's autonomy. It is therefore important to differentiate between civil marriage and religious marriage.
- www.equalmarriage.org 's web site
Current Legal Developments:
On 3/29/04 the Massachusetts Legislature voted to ban gay marriage and establish civil unions, approving a proposed constitutional amendment that would reverse the Supreme Judicial Court's historic ruling that legalized same-sex marriages. This proposed amendment won’t be on the ballot until 2006. The SJC decision legalizing gay marriages is still set to go into effect May 17th.
Our esteemed Governor Mitt Romney immediately vowed to ask the court to block gay marriages. Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly, however, said that he would not take Romney's request to the SJC.
Reilly said he believed that Romney lacked a valid legal basis for a stay, because the SJC has ruled twice in favor of gay marriage. -The Boston Globe 3/30/04
You might want to stock up on rice.
The Supreme Judicial Court's (SJC) Nov. 18 decision in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health goes into effect in a little more than one month, which means same-sex couples will soon be getting legally married.
But there are still some potential roadblocks to a gay May wedding season in the Commonwealth. Gov. Mitt Romney, a vocal critic of same-sex marriage, is reported to still be examining his options for halting the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, despite being turned down by Attorney General Tom Reilly to petition the SJC for a stay. Advocates speculate that Romney might try to use an executive order, but the governor has offered no indication of what options he is considering.
Advocates believe that Romney has few viable options for preventing same-sex marriage, and Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), who represented the plaintiff couples in the Goodridge case, expect that the SJC ruling will take effect on May 17. -Bay Windows, 4/8/04
Please come back to our website often, as we will be making frequent updates. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email us anytime. Oh, and please sign the guest book!
The results of poll questions will be announced at the party. Planning for this event has been great fun and we want to thank everyone involved.
Donald and Michael
Complete Text of the Proposed Amendment
"The unified purpose of this Article is both to define the institution of civil marriage and to establish civil unions to provide same-sex persons with entirely the same benefits, protections, rights, privileges and obligations as are afforded to married persons, while recognizing that under present federal law same-sex persons in civil unions will be denied federal benefits available to married persons.
"It being the public policy of this commonwealth to protect the unique relationship of marriage, only the union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in the commonwealth. Two persons of the same sex shall have the right to form a civil union if they otherwise meet the requirements set forth by law for marriage. Civil unions for same sex persons are established by this Article and shall provide entirely the same benefits, protections, rights, privileges and obligations that are afforded to persons married under the law of the commonwealth. All laws applicable to marriage shall also apply to civil unions.
"This Article is self-executing, but the general court may enact laws not inconsistent with anything herein contained to carry out the purpose of this Article."
If passed, this would deny us civil rights. If this amendment makes it to the ballot in 2006 as a question, we urge you to vote against it.
