Aaand it's now official

Massachusetts now permits same-sex marriages for out-of-state couples, as well as residents. From boston.com:

Surrounded by cheering, clapping gay-rights activists and legislators, Governor Deval Patrick today signed a bill repealing a 95-year-old statute that had prevented gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying in Massachusetts.

"It's a good day," said Patrick, declaring that the repeal will "confirm a simple truth: that is, in Massachusetts, equal means equal."

Massachusetts will "continue to lead the way as a national leader" and affirm "all people come before their government as equals," Patrick said in a bill-signing ceremony at the State House's Grand Staircase. Gay marriage "is still troubling for some of our citizens," he said, "but it is still the law."

Patrick, who turned 52 today, also called the bill "a great birthday present."

The statute in question was a remnant of the bad old days of racial discrimination, passed to prevent out-of-state mixed-race couples from marrying in Massachusetts; Mitt Romney seized upon it as an excuse to block same-sex marriages by out-of-staters. Good riddance to bad rubbish, and happy birthday to Governor Patrick.

Aaand it's now official

Massachusetts now permits same-sex marriages for out-of-state couples, as well as residents. From boston.com:

Surrounded by cheering, clapping gay-rights activists and legislators, Governor Deval Patrick today signed a bill repealing a 95-year-old statute that had prevented gay and lesbian couples from most other states from marrying in Massachusetts.

"It's a good day," said Patrick, declaring that the repeal will "confirm a simple truth: that is, in Massachusetts, equal means equal."

Massachusetts will "continue to lead the way as a national leader" and affirm "all people come before their government as equals," Patrick said in a bill-signing ceremony at the State House's Grand Staircase. Gay marriage "is still troubling for some of our citizens," he said, "but it is still the law."

Patrick, who turned 52 today, also called the bill "a great birthday present."

The statute in question was a remnant of the bad old days of racial discrimination, passed to prevent out-of-state mixed-race couples from marrying in Massachusetts; Mitt Romney seized upon it as an excuse to block same-sex marriages by out-of-staters. Good riddance to bad rubbish, and happy birthday to Governor Patrick.