Gay Marriage Advocates Say They Are Disappointed by Court Ruling
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ALBANY – Same-sex marriage advocates in New York said they were disappointed with a Massachusetts’s court ruling that did little to immediately clarify whether gay couples here can legally cross the state line to wed.
The Supreme Judicial Court in Massachusetts ruled yesterday same-sex couples from other states where gay marriage is prohibited cannot marry in that state. But the court sent the cases of the gay plaintiffs from Rhode Island and New York back to lower courts, saying it was not clear same-sex marriage is prohibited in those states.
If the Superior Court finds mar riage between same-sex couples is not prohibited in the couples’ home states, they will then be able to marry in Massachusetts, according to advocates.
New York’s top officials have said same-sex marriage is illegal in this state, although that interpretation of state law is being challenged in court.
“It would be great if we could also go to Massachusetts and get married; however, it appears from today’s decision that it is still unclear whether we can,” the head of the Empire State Pride Agenda, Alan Van Capelle, said in a prepared statement.
