Massachusetts court defends gay marriage

By Staff Writer, PinkNews.co.uk • December 27, 2006 - 0:00

Outgoing Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has previously called for a new debate on gay marriage laws

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The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that lawmakers cannot be forced to vote on the state's gay marriage laws.

Outgoing Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney has previously called for a new debate on gay marriage laws in the state in the hope of rescinding the current law which makes it the part of America which allows same sex couples to marry.

Last month, the state legislature delayed a gay marriage debate until next January, but Mr Romney is desperate to hold a debate as soon as possible.

However, the Supreme Judicial Court, the same panel which passed the gay marriage laws, today ruled that politicians could not be forced into a vote on the issue.

The ruling said: "Beyond resorting to aspirational language that relies on the presumptive good faith of elected representatives, there is no presently articulated judicial remedy for the Legislature's indifference to, or defiance of, its constitutional duties," the Associated Press reports.

Massachusetts, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Canada and South Africa are the only areas which allow gay marriage.

New Jersey recently passed a civil unions bill which provides the same rights as marriage without using the word.

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