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Gay, Lesbian Couples Call Massachusetts Ruling a Victory
Aired November 18, 2003 - 13:06 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Massachusetts where the highest court in the commonwealth says there are no constitutional impediment to same-six marriage. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has the details and fall-out from that. Deborah, hello to you.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts are already busy planning June weddings. The 4-3 court decision gives state lawmakers six months to put the ruling allowing same-sex marriages into effect. The judges found, in their words, that barring an individual from the protections, benefits and obligations of civil marriage solely, because that person would marry a person of the same sex, violates the Massachusetts's constitution.
Gay and lesbian groups were ecstatic by the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY BONAUTO, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: It's obviously an historic day, November 18, 2003. And it's an historic day because finally all families in the commonwealth of Massachusetts will have the opportunity to be equal families under the law.
We all know that civil marriage is enormous government construct. It's most comprehensive for families that exists. What comes along with it are hundreds of real bread and butter protections for families and protections in times of tragedies and crisis and emergency.
And now, finally, these couple who've have been together years, if not decades, will finally have the chance to be treated equally and fairly by their government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: But for everyone in favor, there are those against it, opponents, including President Bush, say it undermines marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: The problem is that the courts once again have taken this -- appear to have been taken it out of the hands of the legislature. And this is another symptom of the kind of judicial activism that we have seen.
I think that John Adams was the one of the principle author of the Massachusetts constitution. And I bet old John is just spinning in his grave today. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: Vermont has civil unions but Massachusetts would be the first state to actually call it marriage, license and all. Opponents say this will be a very hot issue on the upcoming presidential campaign -- Heidi.
HAYNES: I also have to ask the question, Deborah, what this could mean for other states.
FEYERICK: It means a lot for other states because other couples in other states could use this as precedent to get laws enacted in their own state.
Now, the U.S. government, the federal government does not recognize marriage by same-sex couples, but this could ultimately be used to challenge different laws that exist in different states. So there's a significant impact on the meaning of this.
COLLINS: All right. Deborah Feyerick, thanks so much for that.
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 November 18, 2003 - 13:06 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Now to Massachusetts where the highest court in the commonwealth says there are no constitutional impediment to same-six marriage. CNN's Deborah Feyerick has the details and fall-out from that. Deborah, hello to you.
DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Heidi. Well gay and lesbian couples in Massachusetts are already busy planning June weddings. The 4-3 court decision gives state lawmakers six months to put the ruling allowing same-sex marriages into effect. The judges found, in their words, that barring an individual from the protections, benefits and obligations of civil marriage solely, because that person would marry a person of the same sex, violates the Massachusetts's constitution.
Gay and lesbian groups were ecstatic by the news.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARY BONAUTO, PLAINTIFF'S ATTORNEY: It's obviously an historic day, November 18, 2003. And it's an historic day because finally all families in the commonwealth of Massachusetts will have the opportunity to be equal families under the law.
We all know that civil marriage is enormous government construct. It's most comprehensive for families that exists. What comes along with it are hundreds of real bread and butter protections for families and protections in times of tragedies and crisis and emergency.
And now, finally, these couple who've have been together years, if not decades, will finally have the chance to be treated equally and fairly by their government.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: But for everyone in favor, there are those against it, opponents, including President Bush, say it undermines marriage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN CORNYN (R), TEXAS: The problem is that the courts once again have taken this -- appear to have been taken it out of the hands of the legislature. And this is another symptom of the kind of judicial activism that we have seen.
I think that John Adams was the one of the principle author of the Massachusetts constitution. And I bet old John is just spinning in his grave today. (END VIDEO CLIP)
FEYERICK: Vermont has civil unions but Massachusetts would be the first state to actually call it marriage, license and all. Opponents say this will be a very hot issue on the upcoming presidential campaign -- Heidi.
HAYNES: I also have to ask the question, Deborah, what this could mean for other states.
FEYERICK: It means a lot for other states because other couples in other states could use this as precedent to get laws enacted in their own state.
Now, the U.S. government, the federal government does not recognize marriage by same-sex couples, but this could ultimately be used to challenge different laws that exist in different states. So there's a significant impact on the meaning of this.
COLLINS: All right. Deborah Feyerick, thanks so much for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
