Massachusetts Governor Signs Bill Allowing Out-of-State Gay Marriages

There's a small mystery surrounding a big victory in same-sex marriage in Massachusetts these days.

First, the victory: The Massachusetts House voted 118-35 Tuesday, July 29, to join the Senate in repealing a state law that has been used to prevent out-of-state same-sex couples from coming to Massachusetts to obtain marriage licenses. Democratic Governor Deval Patrick has already indicated he will sign the legislation. That means, soon, that gay couples from other states will be able to obtain marriage licenses in Massachusetts as well as California.

Massachusetts was the first state to allow same-sex couples in the state to obtain marriage licenses. That began in May 2004. But California, in June of this year, became the first state to enable gay couples – resident or non-resident – to obtain marriage licenses there.(keep reading)