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CNN Live At Daybreak
Could be Huge Day For Gay, Lesbian Couples
Aired July 14, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And this could be a huge day for gay and lesbian couples who want to get married. The Supreme Court of Massachusetts is expected to rule this morning on whether to make such marriages legal in the state.
Our Maria Hinojosa looks at both sides of the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Julie and Hillary Goodrich have been a couple for 16 years. When Annie was born seven years ago, they called themselves a family. They had the house, the two careers, but no legal recognition of their relationship. In Massachusetts, they couldn't get married.
EVAN WOLFSON, FREEDOM TO MARRY PROJECT: Gay people want the freedom to marry for the same mix of reasons that non-gay people do. It's emotional as well as economic, practical as well as personal, tangible as well as intangible.
HINOJOSA: The Goodriches and six other couples sued Massachusetts for denying them marriage licenses, arguing the state constitution says you can't discriminate because of sex.
MARY BONAUTO, PLAINTIFFS' ATTORNEY: We're talking about people who don't have equality under the law and should have it because all citizens in the state are born free and equal.
HINOJOSA: Vermont already allows gay state marriage rights, calling them civil unions. And Canada recently allowed gays to marry.
JUDITH YOGMAN, MASSACHUSETTS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The state wants to encourage this model of marriage where there are one parent of each sex.
HINOJOSA: But the Massachusetts attorney general argued it was for the legislature, not the courts, to decide whether to redefine what many feel is a sacred institution. And opponents became quite vocal.
ROSALYNE WILLIAMS, BOSTON CATHOLIC: I think it's inappropriate to see a woman to a woman and a man to a man. It should be a man and a woman. This is how gods wants us to be.
HINOJOSA: Gay activists say the American judicial system is beginning to catch up with real life. Prime time TV shows like "Will and Grace" feature same sex couples and the Supreme Court ruled recently that anti-sodomy laws are unconstitutional.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And in the next hour of CNN DAYBREAK, we'll take you live to Boston. Our Deborah Feyerick will have the latest on the issue of same sex marriage.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired July 14, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: And this could be a huge day for gay and lesbian couples who want to get married. The Supreme Court of Massachusetts is expected to rule this morning on whether to make such marriages legal in the state.
Our Maria Hinojosa looks at both sides of the issue.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARIA HINOJOSA, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Julie and Hillary Goodrich have been a couple for 16 years. When Annie was born seven years ago, they called themselves a family. They had the house, the two careers, but no legal recognition of their relationship. In Massachusetts, they couldn't get married.
EVAN WOLFSON, FREEDOM TO MARRY PROJECT: Gay people want the freedom to marry for the same mix of reasons that non-gay people do. It's emotional as well as economic, practical as well as personal, tangible as well as intangible.
HINOJOSA: The Goodriches and six other couples sued Massachusetts for denying them marriage licenses, arguing the state constitution says you can't discriminate because of sex.
MARY BONAUTO, PLAINTIFFS' ATTORNEY: We're talking about people who don't have equality under the law and should have it because all citizens in the state are born free and equal.
HINOJOSA: Vermont already allows gay state marriage rights, calling them civil unions. And Canada recently allowed gays to marry.
JUDITH YOGMAN, MASSACHUSETTS ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL: The state wants to encourage this model of marriage where there are one parent of each sex.
HINOJOSA: But the Massachusetts attorney general argued it was for the legislature, not the courts, to decide whether to redefine what many feel is a sacred institution. And opponents became quite vocal.
ROSALYNE WILLIAMS, BOSTON CATHOLIC: I think it's inappropriate to see a woman to a woman and a man to a man. It should be a man and a woman. This is how gods wants us to be.
HINOJOSA: Gay activists say the American judicial system is beginning to catch up with real life. Prime time TV shows like "Will and Grace" feature same sex couples and the Supreme Court ruled recently that anti-sodomy laws are unconstitutional.
Maria Hinojosa, CNN, New York.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: And in the next hour of CNN DAYBREAK, we'll take you live to Boston. Our Deborah Feyerick will have the latest on the issue of same sex marriage.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
