Massachusetts Attorney General Martha
Coakley's office announced Thursday that the state would recognize
the marriages of some 1,300 gay and lesbian couples performed in
Utah.
Coakley's office said that it believes
the marriages were legally performed and should be recognized by
Massachusetts, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2004.
Kara Coredini, executive director of
MassEquality, the state's largest LGBT rights advocate, cheered the
move.
“MassEquality applauds Attorney
General Coakley for her continuing leadership on marriage equality,”
said Coredini. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations and support
to the more than 1,300 couples who have married in Utah and to the
many more Utahans who are looking forward to the day when they also
will marry in Utah. This chapter was already written in California,
and we know how the story ends. Justice will prevail in Utah.”
The marriages were conducted during a
17 day window bookended by a federal judge's ruling striking down
Utah's marriage ban and the Supreme Court putting the judge's order
on hold pending the outcome of an appeal.
Two days after Utah officials said they
were putting the marriages “on hold,” the Obama administration
announced that the federal government would recognize the marriages
for purposes of federal benefits.
Attorney generals in Maryland and
Delaware have also pledged to recognize the marriages.
(Related: Vince
Gray: “Unequivocally” D.C. should recognize Utah gay marriages.)