Gays Vow to Press Marriage Fight Nationwide
By Greg Frost

BOSTON (Reuters) - Gay rights advocates vowed on Tuesday to press for full marriage rights for same-sex couples across the nation even as conservatives campaigned to undo the legal gay unions that just began in Massachusetts.

Hundreds of gay and lesbian couples lined up for marriage licenses and dozens exchanged wedding vows on Monday, when Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex marriage.

Kevin Cathcart, executive director of gay rights group Lambda Legal, called the legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts "an incredible breakthrough" but noted the state is only one of 50 in the nation.

"No one should have to go to another state or another country in order to get their marriage recognized," he said. "So we can't and we won't stop until we have equality in marriage nationwide."

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Alabama will not recognize gay marriages

Montgomery, AL, May. 18 (UPI) -- State Attorney General Troy King said that Massachusetts's gay marriages will not be recognized as valid in the state of Alabama.

His remarks, published in Tuesday's Birmingham News, are some of the strongest yet by a state official. King said Alabama officials believe they do not have "any obligation to recognize homosexual marriages."

King's statement is one of several reacting to Massachusetts decision allowing same sex marriage on the same footing as heterosexual unions. Several states have taken steps to ban recognition of Massachusetts unions. But their validity in Massachusetts may trigger the full faith and credit clause of the U.S. Constitution, making them valid in all states if performed in Massachusetts.

"State law, King said, "would prevent us from doing that."