New Court Battle Brewing Over Mass. Gay Marriages
by Michael J. Meade
365Gay.com Newscenter

(Boston, Massachusetts) The legality of issuing marriage licenses to out-of-state couples is expected to be tested in the courts following the intervention Friday of Massachusetts Attorney General Thomas Riley.

Riley's office told clerks in four towns which refused to follow a directive by Gov. Mitt Romney that a 1913 law prevented licenses from being given to couples who reside in states where their marriages are not legal.

Provincetown, Somerville, Springfield, and Worcester all have granted marriage licenses to out-of-staters since same-sex marriage became legal in the Massachusetts on Monday.

Thursday, Romney sent copies of ten marriage application forms filled out couples from outside of Massachusetts to Riley and called on him to take action.