Florida Lesbians Sue To Have All States Recognize Mass. Marriage


TAMPA, Fla. -- A lesbian couple from Bradenton who were married in Massachusetts sued the federal government Tuesday to have their union legally recognized in the rest of the country.

The suit was filed against U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft in federal court in Tampa.

The couple's attorney, Ellis Rubin, has filed five previous suits in state and federal courts challenging the ban, but
Tuesday's was believed to be the first to attempt to compel the federal government and other states to recognize a union that occurred in a state where same-sex unions are legal.

The suit was filed on behalf of the Rev. Nancy Wilson, a Metropolitan Community Church minister, and Paula Schoenwether, a family marriage counselor. The two have been together for 27 years and were married July 2 in Massachusetts, the only state where same-sex marriages are recognized.