Out-Of-State Gays Head To P'Town To Wed

Out-Of-State Gays Head To P'Town To Wed
by Margo Williams
365Gay.com Newscenter
Boston Bureau

Posted: May 17, 2004 2:02 pm. ET

(Provincetown, Massachusetts) Despite threats from Gov. Mitt Romney that they cannot marry in Massachusetts and laws in their own states that prevent their marriages from being recognized dozens of out-of-state same-sex couples are arriving in Provincetown to wed.

The gay mecca at the tip of Cape Cod is one of three towns in Massachusetts refusing to heed Romney's demand that gay couples from outside the state cannot be granted marriage licenses. (story)

The first couple in line at Provincetown's Town Hall this morning was from Anniston, Alabama. Chris McCary and John Sullivan flew into Boston Sunday and arrived at the steps of the Town Hall at 5:30 a.m.

'This is the most important day of my life,'' said McCary, even though their union won't be recognized in Alabama. ''This window could be closed in the future but it's still worth it.''

The couple, together for six years, didn't want to wait any longer to make it official. After filling out the license application they headed to the district court in Orleans to ask a judge to waive the normal three-day waiting period. They said they planned to marry later today in Provincetown.

Other couples came from Minnesota and New York.

Last week New York Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer said that under New York law same-sex marriages performed in Massachusetts should be recognized but Gov. George Pataki said state law forbids gay marriage. (story) The issue will likely end up in state Supreme Court.

Monday, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said same-sex marriages are not allowed in that state.

Blumenthal issued a legal opinion saying Connecticut statutes refer to a "bride" and "groom" and a "husband" and "wife" and says these terms are commonly understood to refer to a man and a woman. The ultimate test though will be the state courts.

Rhode Island is expected to make a statement later today.

In addition, 38 states have Defense of Marriage laws which define marriage as a union between and man and a woman.

John Yarbrough and his longtime partner Cody Rogahn came in from Minnesota. The couple said they hope their marriage helps convince their state to legalize same-sex marriage.

"I'm excited," Yarbrough said. "It is kind of historic. The whole atmosphere is just wonderful."

The majority of the 110 couples lined up in Provincetown today were locals, or people who have summer homes in the community.

Among them was Cheryl Andrews, chair of the Provincetown Board of Selectmen, and her partner Jennifer Germack.

"It's really one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me," said Andrews after filling out the license form. "I've been bursting into tears just about every other minute for the last two weeks."

The couple has planned a private ceremony Thursday at Germack's father's Cape Cod nursing home.

Shel Goldstein and his partner John Burke walked down the steps of Provincetown Town Hall sporting a bit of whimsy. Burke wore black sunglasses and a bridal headpiece decorated with hearts, flowers and the word "groom."

"We're making history, but we're doing something we should have been able to do for years," Burke said.

Almost all of the town's gay community turned out to celebrate the historic day. Commercial Street was decorated with Rainbow flags, and as each couple came out of the Town Hall the crowd let out a cheer.

©365Gay.com® 2004
with files from the Associated Press