Mass. Provides Calif. a Preview of Gay Marriage

(NEWSER) - Connecticut today became the third state to legalize gay marriage, after Massachusetts and California. In a 4-3 ruling, the state supreme court said civil unions are discriminatory because they violate the equal protection clause of the state constitution, the Hartford Courant reports. Although she disagrees, Gov. Jodi Rell said, "The supreme court has spoken." More»

But upcoming vote may change the rules

(NEWSER) - Gay marriage has been legal in California for just 3 months, and already some 11,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot—more than in Massachusetts in 4 years, a UCLA study found. But things may change next month when Californians vote on whether to amend the state constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, the Los Angeles Times reports. More»

Massachusetts' lessons for California couples

(NEWSER) - It’s been four years since Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, and there are winners, losers—and everything in between, the New York Times reports. In what one gay married man calls “a mixed bag,” it appears that gays are more likely to rush into marriage, more likely to marry older, and more likely to sign pre-nuptial agreements. Pay attention, California. More»

Muted reactions thus far obscure truths

(NEWSER) - Despite the relatively muted national reaction to California’s approval of gay marriage, same-sex unions still matter to Americans and may yet become a wedge issue in November on par with their decisive role in 2004, Politico reports. Last time around, the controversy grew slowly after Massachusetts' legalization in 2003. If the same holds true this year, Obama stands to take a further hit among working-class whites, one analyst says. More»

Voters have option to kill same-sex marriage law at Nov. polls

(NEWSER) - Despite its staying power in Massachusetts, gay marriage may not last long in California, Emily Bazelon writes for Slate. Unlike Massachusetts, where “a layered and intricate legislative process” gave voters time to get comfortable with the new law, Californians can overturn the landmark ruling on election day in November, by passing an initiative that's already on the ballot. More»