Massachusetts Court's Same-Sex Marriage Decision
Thursday February 5, 2004
When the Massachusetts State Senate asked the state's high court for an advisory opinion regarding allowing gays to join in civil unions, they were probably hoping for a different answer than the one they received on February 4th.
The court rejected the idea of using civil unions as a way to deal with the same-sex marriage issue saying, "Because the proposed law by its express terms forbids same-sex couples entry into civil marriage, it continues to relegate same-sex couples to a different status. ... The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate is seldom, if ever, equal."
SJC-09163 - Opinion of the Justices to the Senate
SJC-09163 with linked annotations
Massachusetts Makes it Legal!
Cnn News Report on Massachusetts court upholding same-sex marriage
Family Research Council Press Release
Same-Sex Marriage Laws in the United States
More on Same-Sex Marriages
I have a serious question. I am in a relationship with my first cousin Salvatore Matina from Shelby Township, Michigan and I want him to marry me. I do not know anything about the law and gay marriage. We do have green cards and I want to know if it is legal in our state of Michigan, and will there be restrictions on us because we are first cousins and we have green cards?
Paul Viviano
Shelby Twp., MI 48316
Hi Paul,
You have two strikes against you. In November, 2004, Michigan voters passed a constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. Additionally, cousin marriages are not allowed in Michigan.
Michigan Marriage License Laws