Copyright CanWest Interactive, Inc. Aug 1, 2008

BOSTON -Massachusetts lawmakers have cleared the way for out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in the New England state, voting to repeal a 1913 law that banned marriages not considered valid in the couples' home states. Governor Deval Patrick, a Democrat whose daughter has come out as a lesbian, has said he plans to sign the repeal measure. "While we'll never get complacent, we're getting close to the point where the question of marriage equality in Massachusetts is settled," Marc Solomon, executive director of MassEquality, said yesterday. The statewide group promotes the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people. In 2004, Massachusetts became the first U. S. state to permit legal marriages of same-sex couples.

Credit: Reuters