This morning, Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Thomas Connolly ruled that same-sex couples from Rhode Island can marry in Massachusetts.
Earlier this year, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that a 1913 law used to stop same-sex couples from outside Massachusetts marrying here could be applied only if a couple's home state expressly forbids same-sex marriage. While most states do expressly forbid same-sex couples from marrying, Judge Connolly ruled today that nothing in Rhode Island law "explicitly deems void or otherwise expressly forbids same-sex marriage." With this ruling, Rhode Island couples can now marry in Massachusetts.
This decision is significant as it means that same-sex couples from TWO states can legally marry.
We extend our heartfelt thanks and congratulations to the hardworking team of attorneys at Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD) and to the plaintiffs in this case, Wendy Becker and Mary Norton of Providence.
For more information about the case, the ruling, and the potential legal implications for Rhode Islanders who might want to marry in Massachusetts, please visit GLAD online.