May 21 Massachusetts Moves to Stop Out-of-State Gay Marriages By PBS News Hour The Massachusetts attorney general warned clerks on Friday in four communities to stop granting marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples. Continue reading
May 17 State-Sanctioned Gay Marriages Begin in Massachusetts By PBS News Hour Massachusetts became the first state in the nation to grant gay couples marriage licenses Monday, with hundreds of couples lining up overnight to fill out marriage applications. Continue reading
May 13 Judge Blocks Last-Minute Bid to Stop Mass. Gay Marriages By PBS News Hour A federal judge Thursday rejected an 11th hour attempt by conservative groups to prevent Massachusetts from granting the first state-sanctioned gay marriage licenses beginning next week. Continue reading
Apr 30 Massachusetts Won’t Marry Out-of-State Couples Without States’ Permission Governors and attorneys general across the country are developing responses to a letter Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney sent Thursday telling them that gay couples will only be allowed to marry there if their home states grant him permission. Continue reading
Apr 30 The Defense of Marriage Act By PBS News Hour The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is a federal law designed to give states the right to refuse recognition of a same-sex marriage approved by another state. It also defines marriage as a union between a man and woman for… Continue reading
Feb 24 President Bush Endorses Amendment Banning Gay Marriage By PBS News Hour President Bush announced that he is in favor of amending the U.S. Constitution to ban marriages between same-sex couples. He said he would like to see an amendment "defining and protecting marriage as a union of a man and woman,… Continue reading
Feb 04 Massachusetts High Court Decision Clears Path for Gay Marriages By PBS News Hour In a major victory for Massachusetts' gay citizens, the state's supreme court declared Wednesday that same-sex couples are constitutionally entitled to full marriage rights, beyond the scope of rights civil unions allow. Continue reading
Nov 18 Massachusetts Court Rules Ban on Gay Marriage Unconstitutional Massachusetts' highest court ruled in a 4-3 decision Tuesday that the state's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and ordered the state legislature to come up with a solution within 180 days. Continue reading