Attorney General Martha Coakley (center) called the ruling “a matter of fairness, equality, and respect for human beings.’’
(Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)
Federal court in Boston rules US marriage law unconstitutional
Attorney General Martha Coakley (center) called the ruling “a matter of fairness, equality, and respect for human beings.’’
(Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)
In a ground-breaking ruling affirming gay rights, a United States appeals court in Boston on Thursday struck down the heart of a federal act that defines marriage as a union solely of a man and a woman, granting equal federal benefits for same-sex couples in Massachusetts. The decision could set up a potential showdown over the rights of same-sex married couples before the US Supreme Court.
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