UUA President Issues Statement on Massachusetts Court Decision in Support of Same-Sex Marriage

UUA President William G. Sinkford

Previous UUA Coverage 10/27/03 Freedom to Marry, For All People 6/26/03 Pres. William G. Sinkford's Statement on the decision of the United States Supreme Court in the case of Lawrence et al v. Texas 6/05/03 Religious Leaders Call for Support of Civil Marriage for Gays and Lesbians 2/12/03 Massachusetts Interfaith Clergy Pledge for the Freedom to Marry Frequently Asked Questions 3/26/02 The Meaning of Family 2000 Giving support to Vermont same sex marriage efforts

Lead Plaintiffs Julie and Hillary Goodridge with their daughter, Annie

(Boston, MA - November 18, 2003) Following the announcement of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's long-anticipated decision in the case of Goodridge et al vs. the Department of Public Health, UUA President William G. Sinkford issued a statement lauding the decision of the Court. Sinkford said, "We enthusiastically applaud today's ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts in favor of same-sex marriage. The Unitarian Universalist Association has a long-standing and deeply held religious commitment to support full equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people, and today's ruling is a significant step forward in guaranteeing that the rights enjoyed by heterosexual couples in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are also available to its bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender citizens. We trust that the Massachusetts Legislature will act promptly and fairly to support same-sex couples and their families."

The Court, in its 4-3 decision, found that the Commonwealth's law which opposes same sex marriage is unconstitutional, saying that the state "failed to identify any constitutionally adequate reason for denying civil marriage to same-sex couples," but it stopped short of ordering the Commonwealth to immediately enact same sex marriage. Instead, the Court ordered the Legislature of the Commonwealth to remedy the inequitable situation "within 180 days." Attorney Mary Bonauto of the Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD), who brought the plaintiff's case to the Supreme Judicial Court, said at today's press conference following the ruling, "In the next 180 days there is little to be done to undo this constitutional ruling. Today's court decision says that as to liberty and equality there is no rational reason whatsoever for discrimination against gay or lesbian families. This is an issue of human equality and diginity, and it is time to treat these families fairly. In the end the solution is civil marriage, the same thing everyone else has."

14 plaintiffs from five MA counties brought the original suit in 2001, when seven same sex couples went to their city and town halls to obtain marriage licenses. Seven of the fourteen plaintiffs are Unitarian Universalists. The denial of licenses led them to sue the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, which administers the state's marriage laws. "They seek to secure legally the obligations they have assumed morally, and to situate their family within the social recognition and legal rights that only marriage affords," the plaintiffs wrote in a legal brief.

The case, heard in Suffolk Superior Court, was thrown out in 2002, but the plaintiffs appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court, which heard arguments in March 2003.

Rev. Sinkford, offering further comment on the actions of the Massachusetts Court, observed, "The citizens of Massachusetts should be proud that this state is at the forefront of the growing movement to extend basic civil rights to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, and it is our fervent hope that Massachusetts can be a model for other states to emulate. In addition to today's decision by the Supreme Judicial Court, the recent United States Supreme Court decision in the case of Lawrence v. Texas and legal rulings in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, as well as in Belgium and the Netherlands, demonstrate a growing understanding that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is wrong. Today's decision also reinforces the Unitarian Universalist commitment to work to end homophobia. We acknowledge that while progress has been made, we still have work to do to honor every person's inherent worth and dignity."

Information for Ministerial Professionals:

• Talking Points for Religious Professionals in Communicating with the Media
  From Keith Kron, Director of the Office of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian and Transgender

Media Coverage: Statements, Reactions to SJC Ruling

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