1. How it all Started SAME SEX MARRIAGE IN MASSACHUSETTS

2.  March 4, 2003- November 18, 2003  Gay and Lesbian support group (GLAD) sues Massachusetts under Equal Protection Clause in MA Constitution  Massachusetts Court rules in favor of GLAD (4-3 Ruling) GOODRIDGE V. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

3. GLAD  Violation of Equal Protection Clause  Same sex couples are unable to receive the same benefits as married couples Tax benefits Property Rights Etc. State of Massachusetts  Institution of Marriage promotes procreation  Benefits of heterosexual parents  Administrative inconvenience ARGUMENTS

4.  Modern day fertilization advances  No proof same sex couples could not parent  State could not deny any citizen basic marital rights REASONS FOR DECISION

5. VERMONT  Vermont Constitution– Common Benefits Clause MASSACHUSETTS  No pre-existing equality clause WHY MASSACHUSETTS AND NOT VERMONT?

6.  The Court gave the Legislature 180 days to make a decision  The Legislature tried to make a slight change  Civil union as opposed to marriage  Court says “No!”  "[w]ithout the right to choose to marry, same-sex couples are not only denied full protection of the laws, but are excluded from the full range of human experience.” – Massachusetts Court  “only a right to enter civil marriage would cure the constitutional infirmity in the state's law” –CNN WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?

7.  MGL c.207. Marriage. The same laws and procedures that govern traditional marriage also apply to same-sex marriages. There are no special procedures for a same-sex marriage. MGL c.207 Massachusetts Constitution MASS LAW

8. Case Brief Summmary. "Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health." Case Brief Summary. Case Brief Summary, 6 Nov. 2012. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Grossman, Joanna. "How Same-sex Marriage Became Legal in Massachusetts." CNN. Cable News Network, 6 Feb. 2004. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. Law Libraries. "Massachusetts Law About Same-Sex Marriage." Massachusetts Law About Same-Sex Marriage. Massachusetts Trial Court Law Liberties, 28 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. ProCon.org. "Same-Sex Marriage Timeline." ProCon.org. 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2013. *All Images from Google RESOURCES