Referendum on 1913 marriage law passes first test in Massachusetts

Posted on August 27, 2008
Filed Under Gay News Blog

The state attorney general today approved paperwork filed by opponents of same-sex marriages who are pushing a statewide referendum that would reinstate a 1913 statute that prevented gay and lesbian couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union wouldn’t be legal in their home state.

The paperwork, which included the signatures of 10 registered voters, was filed Aug. 13 by the group Mass Resistance. They now need to gather signatures from 33,297 registered voters by Oct. 29 to get the referendum on the ballot in November 2010.

“After a thorough review by our office, we have concluded that this referendum petition has met the technical requirements that govern such petitions.” Attorney General Martha Coakley said today in a statement. “Our decision that this referendum meets the Constitutional requirements as to subject matter does not mean that it has our support, but simply that the constitutional requirements are met for the proponents of the referendum to obtain further signatures.”

The referendum would seek to repeal a law signed by Governor Deval Patrick last month that nullified the 1913 statute. The new law made Massachusetts the second state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry regardless of their place of residence. Gay Massachusetts residents have been allowed to legally marry since 2004.

Referendum on 1913 marriage law passes first test Boston Globe