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American Morning

Massachusetts Could Become First State to Allow Same-Sex Marriages

Aired July 14, 2003 - 07:34   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.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And the State of Massachusetts today could become the first state in the country to allow same sex marriages. The Supreme Judicial Court could decide this morning whether or not gay couples have the constitutional right to be married.
Deborah Feyerick watching this case quite closely, live today in Boston -- Deborah, good morning.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning there, Bill.

Well, seven couples sued the State of Massachusetts, saying they're guaranteed equal protection under the constitution. So the court has three choices. Either they can say one, the ban on same sex marriage is not discrimination; two, they can basically toss it to the legislature and say you know what, this is not a court issue, this is an issue for you guys to decide; or, three, they could say that yes, same sex marriages are legal and valid, and that would give gays and lesbians all the same protections entitled to married couples. That means they could make medical decisions for their partners, they would stand to inheriting money, tax issues, all of those things would be covered.

Opponents say that this decision, if it comes out in favor of gays and lesbians, could wreak havoc on other states, and that's because other states are not obligated to recognize marriage licenses. Also, even if it does pass, synagogues, churches, mosques, they're not obligated to perform any of these ceremonies. A recent poll here in Massachusetts found that about 50 percent of the people living here do believe that marriage should be OK between same sex couples. However, you can bet that this issue, whichever side it comes out on, is going to be going all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court -- Bill.

HEMMER: Deborah, thanks for that.

Deborah Feyerick live in Boston.

There are seven same sex couples participating in this case.

From Watertown, Massachusetts today, one couple, Ellen Wade and Maureen Brodoff, are with us now as our guests today from Massachusetts.

Good morning to both of you.

ELLEN WADE, PLAINTIFF: Good morning. MAUREEN BRODOFF, PLAINTIFF: Good morning.

HEMMER: Tell us what would it mean to you to get recognition in marriage in your state?

WADE: Well, it would mean a great deal. It would mean recognition of our relationship of over 20 years, which is perhaps not the most important thing, because I don't think it'll change our relationship a great deal. It will mean access to protections and benefits that are presently denied same sex couples. I've worked alongside someone for all of my working life and just because the coworker is heterosexual, that person's partner will have all kinds of position benefits and Social Security benefits that would be denied to my partner, my surviving partner, where I to die, for example.

HEMMER: Yes, Ellen, you mentioned that twice, the finances, the insurance.

Maureen, is that the bottom line here? Would it help you better financially? Is that part of the motivation to bring this case?

BRODOFF: Yes, it is. But more generally, it, I think that a civil marriage would allow us in many ways, financial, social and otherwise to protect each other and to keep our family strong.

HEMMER: You have been together 20 years. You've raised a child together. Ellen, you say your relationship would not change, but I assume it would in some way.

Have you thought about that, if, indeed, the court rules in your favor?

WADE: Well, I think it could change in a positive way in the sense that recognition, all the recognition and support that is out there for marriages would be there for us, too. So I think it could only help, I think.

HEMMER: Yes, Maureen, you certainly have detractors in this country, not only in this country, but in your state, for that matter.

What do you say to those who say this does not belong in the courts and the two of you do not belong in a union of marriage?

BRODOFF: Well, I guess I'd say to them that we think the institution of marriage is strong enough to evolve and change. And we're -- and in our society, families have evolved and changed, particularly over the last 20 or 30 years. There is a lots of different ways to make a family. And we exist. We live in our community. We pay taxes. We coach our Little League. We go to work every day. We exist as a couple and we're just asking that the courts recognize that reality and just as a matter of fairness allow us to participate in the institution of marriage.

HEMMER: There are a few movements out there I want to draw your attention to, the situation in Canada moving toward this, as well, in the State of Vermont. If you look at the sodomy ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court, gay activists across the country say this ruling came in their favor.

Do you see a trend in this country right now that would come out in favor of you winning this case possibly today?

WADE: Well, I think that we -- I think that attitudes have changed in this country. I think the poll that you mentioned leading into the story suggests that and I think, as Maureen mentioned, we ourselves and gay and lesbian couples all over the country are part of the fabric of everyone's every day life. And I think people are increasingly realizing that and as they realize it, they're realizing that that's a positive thing, for the most part. And I think with attitudes changing, I think, and I like to hope that if we win the case here in Massachusetts, that the country will be ready for it.

HEMMER: In a word or two, Maureen, if you lose the case, what then?

BRODOFF: I'm not sure. I, you know, we would be very disappointed. But we do think over time, if not here in Massachusetts, then eventually other places, and some day here, as well, that eventually our country will recognize our families.

HEMMER: Maureen Brodoff, Ellen Wade, in Massachusetts with us this morning.

Thank you for your time.

WADE: You're welcome.

BRODOFF: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Marriages>


Aired July 14, 2003 - 07:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And the State of Massachusetts today could become the first state in the country to allow same sex marriages. The Supreme Judicial Court could decide this morning whether or not gay couples have the constitutional right to be married.
Deborah Feyerick watching this case quite closely, live today in Boston -- Deborah, good morning.

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning there, Bill.

Well, seven couples sued the State of Massachusetts, saying they're guaranteed equal protection under the constitution. So the court has three choices. Either they can say one, the ban on same sex marriage is not discrimination; two, they can basically toss it to the legislature and say you know what, this is not a court issue, this is an issue for you guys to decide; or, three, they could say that yes, same sex marriages are legal and valid, and that would give gays and lesbians all the same protections entitled to married couples. That means they could make medical decisions for their partners, they would stand to inheriting money, tax issues, all of those things would be covered.

Opponents say that this decision, if it comes out in favor of gays and lesbians, could wreak havoc on other states, and that's because other states are not obligated to recognize marriage licenses. Also, even if it does pass, synagogues, churches, mosques, they're not obligated to perform any of these ceremonies. A recent poll here in Massachusetts found that about 50 percent of the people living here do believe that marriage should be OK between same sex couples. However, you can bet that this issue, whichever side it comes out on, is going to be going all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court -- Bill.

HEMMER: Deborah, thanks for that.

Deborah Feyerick live in Boston.

There are seven same sex couples participating in this case.

From Watertown, Massachusetts today, one couple, Ellen Wade and Maureen Brodoff, are with us now as our guests today from Massachusetts.

Good morning to both of you.

ELLEN WADE, PLAINTIFF: Good morning. MAUREEN BRODOFF, PLAINTIFF: Good morning.

HEMMER: Tell us what would it mean to you to get recognition in marriage in your state?

WADE: Well, it would mean a great deal. It would mean recognition of our relationship of over 20 years, which is perhaps not the most important thing, because I don't think it'll change our relationship a great deal. It will mean access to protections and benefits that are presently denied same sex couples. I've worked alongside someone for all of my working life and just because the coworker is heterosexual, that person's partner will have all kinds of position benefits and Social Security benefits that would be denied to my partner, my surviving partner, where I to die, for example.

HEMMER: Yes, Ellen, you mentioned that twice, the finances, the insurance.

Maureen, is that the bottom line here? Would it help you better financially? Is that part of the motivation to bring this case?

BRODOFF: Yes, it is. But more generally, it, I think that a civil marriage would allow us in many ways, financial, social and otherwise to protect each other and to keep our family strong.

HEMMER: You have been together 20 years. You've raised a child together. Ellen, you say your relationship would not change, but I assume it would in some way.

Have you thought about that, if, indeed, the court rules in your favor?

WADE: Well, I think it could change in a positive way in the sense that recognition, all the recognition and support that is out there for marriages would be there for us, too. So I think it could only help, I think.

HEMMER: Yes, Maureen, you certainly have detractors in this country, not only in this country, but in your state, for that matter.

What do you say to those who say this does not belong in the courts and the two of you do not belong in a union of marriage?

BRODOFF: Well, I guess I'd say to them that we think the institution of marriage is strong enough to evolve and change. And we're -- and in our society, families have evolved and changed, particularly over the last 20 or 30 years. There is a lots of different ways to make a family. And we exist. We live in our community. We pay taxes. We coach our Little League. We go to work every day. We exist as a couple and we're just asking that the courts recognize that reality and just as a matter of fairness allow us to participate in the institution of marriage.

HEMMER: There are a few movements out there I want to draw your attention to, the situation in Canada moving toward this, as well, in the State of Vermont. If you look at the sodomy ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court, gay activists across the country say this ruling came in their favor.

Do you see a trend in this country right now that would come out in favor of you winning this case possibly today?

WADE: Well, I think that we -- I think that attitudes have changed in this country. I think the poll that you mentioned leading into the story suggests that and I think, as Maureen mentioned, we ourselves and gay and lesbian couples all over the country are part of the fabric of everyone's every day life. And I think people are increasingly realizing that and as they realize it, they're realizing that that's a positive thing, for the most part. And I think with attitudes changing, I think, and I like to hope that if we win the case here in Massachusetts, that the country will be ready for it.

HEMMER: In a word or two, Maureen, if you lose the case, what then?

BRODOFF: I'm not sure. I, you know, we would be very disappointed. But we do think over time, if not here in Massachusetts, then eventually other places, and some day here, as well, that eventually our country will recognize our families.

HEMMER: Maureen Brodoff, Ellen Wade, in Massachusetts with us this morning.

Thank you for your time.

WADE: You're welcome.

BRODOFF: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Marriages>