Welcome! Massachusetts changes tune on out-of-state gay marriages
Lawmakers consider repealing 1913 law
Massachusetts is expected to pass legislation allowing out-of-state gay marriage. Yesterday the the State Senate voted to get rid of a 1913 law that had allowed the marriage of gay couples who are residents of Massachusetts, while barring any marriage that would have been illegal in a couple's home state. The New York Times reports today that the State House is expected to pass the bill and Gov. Deval Patrick has said he would sign it.
The state's action comes on the heels of California's recent legalization of gay marriage and New York State's recent decision to recognize gay marriages performed elsewhere.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger expressed enthusiasm for legalizing gay marriage in California, in part due to estimates of a significant economic impact in the wedding and tourism industries. By repealing its restrictive marriage law, Massachusetts hopes to capitalize on the same benefits. As the Times reports:
State officials said they expected a multimillion-dollar benefit in weddings and tourism, especially from people who live in New York. A just-released study commissioned by the State of Massachusetts concludes that in the next three years about 32,200 couples would travel here to get married, creating 330 permanent jobs and adding $111 million to the economy, not including spending by wedding guests and tourist activities the weddings might generate.
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