Mass. Gay Marriage Implications Spread Beyond State Lines

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/newscon05/01/010305riMarr.htm

A Rhode Island court has been asked to determine if the Tiverton School District is required to extend health care coverage to the spouse of a lesbian teacher who was married in Massachusetts.

Cheryl McCullough married Joyce Boivin in June in Massachusetts where same-sex marriage is legal. McCullough, 60, and Boivin, 54, live in Swansea, Mass. McCullough, who worked for 27 years as a health teacher and guidance counselor at Tiverton High School, applied for health insurance shortly after the couple was married.

Although same-sex marriage is not legal in Rhode Island it is not banned either. The law is silent on a definition of what constitutes a married couple

[TaleWgnDg]

1. am laughing . . . hot damn! and the march continues . . . n/t

[tjwmason]

2. Is this what DoMA's about?

I don't know much about the U.S. law on this, but I thought that the federal DoMA (thank you Pres. Clinton) stopped gay marriages being carried across state boundaries.

I'm in the U.K. and we've just got civil unions, there's been some complaining, but I would say the British style is one step at a time. Not that the civil union is much use to a single like me...

[nickinSTL]

3. Yes, that's what DoMA was intended to do

But I think it only prevents other states from being required to recognize gay marriage from other states.

I think if Rhode Island decides to recognize the MA marriages, they can.

[renaissanceguy]

4. Yeah, it is a state-by-state issue then.

I have a feeling that come five or so years from now, you'll have the north mandating civil marriage/unions for gay couples, and the south will burn us at the stake. Just like old times, but regarding a different issue.

http://www.cafepress.com/liberalissues.14744378

[GodlessBiker]

5. I agree, but it will be in 10-15 years.