Marriage

GLAD’s historic 2003 victory in Goodridge v. Department of Public Health made Massachusetts the first state in the country to grant same-sex couples the rights and respect of full marriage equality. On October 10, 2008, the Connecticut Supreme Court ruled in GLAD’s case Kerrigan & Mock v. Department of Public Health that same-sex couples have the right to marry. Learn more about this case.

Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine all passed marriage equality legislation in 2009. Same-sex couples began marrying in Vermont on September 1, and will beginning marrying in New Hampshire in January, 2010. Unfortunately, the Maine legislation was overturned in a voter referendum on November 3, 2009. Along with our partners in the New England Marriage Campaign, we are working to ensure that all New England couples and families have the rights, respect, and equality they deserve.


GLAD’s Work On This Issue

New England is on the forefront of the marriage equality movement.

Legislative Advocacy

June 30, 2009

The Way Life Should Be: Marriage Equality in Maine

Maine family

Update, July 31, 2009: Anti-equality organizers have filed signatures with the Secretary of State.
Read a statement from No on 1/Protect Equality.… More →

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May 14, 2012

RI Gov Chafee Issues Order for State Agencies to Recognize Marriages of Same-sex Couples

Today Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee (I) issued an executive order directing state agencies to recognize the marriages of the state’s same-sex… More →

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