How Desperate Are They? - Relying On Out Of Date Law To Stop Marriages
(Boston, Massachusetts) Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney late Tuesday demanded copies of all applications for marriage licenses by same-sex couples that were filled out yesterday in Provincetown and three other communities that defied the his directive that out-of-state gay couples are not eligible for marriage in in the state.
The order for the documents came following a study published by a Boston newspaper that showed one third of the license applications in Provincetown were from couples from outside of Massachusetts. (story)
In April Romney sent a letter to all governors and attorneys general advising them that unless they notify him gay marriage is legal in their states same-sex couples would not be allowed to tie the knot. (story)
Romney is relying on a 1913 law that says marriage licenses cannot be issued to out-of-state couples if their marriages would be "void" in the couples' home states. The law dates back to a period when interracial marriage was legal in Massachusetts but illegal in most other states.
In addition to Provincetown clerks in Worcester, Springfield and Somerville said they would refuse to follow the governor's directive.
"Any marriages performed outside of the law are null and void under Massachusetts statutes," Romney spokesperson Shawn Feddeman said Tuesday when asked about the governor's demand for the documents.
The clerks in the four cities say they were acting within the law y granting the licenses. It is expected if Romney attempts to charge the clerks with violating the 1913 law or if he nullifies the marriage applications by out-of-state couples the issue will wind up in court.
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/05/051804romney.htm
It seems like with every victory there comes a new battle that must be won on the issue of gay marriage :(
The fact that the law deal with interracial marriages, you would have thought, would be more than enough for the guy to realize he is wasting tax payers money :(
Regards,
Lee
