Gay Marriage in Massachusetts and Beyond

The Massachusetts court decision legalizing gay marriage helped Bush beat Kerry in 2004. Massachusetts apparently wants to further help Republicans by repealing "a 1913 law that bans out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts."

If the law is repealed gay couples from all over the country will come to Massachusetts to get married. Some will then demand that their home states recognize the marriage. The federal Defense of Marriage act holds that states won't have to recognize these gay marriages, but this act is constitutionally questionable. Thus, the constitutionality of forcing states such as New Mexico to recognize gay marriage will become a big issue in the 2008 presidential election. This, I imagine, will greatly help Republicans.