Patrick signs repeal of 1913

UPDATED: BOSTON - In front of a large and energetic crowd, Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton) on Thursday signed legislation Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Milton)repealing the 1913 law that prohibited out of state gay couples from getting married in Massachusetts.

Speaking from behind a podium and signing table at the foot of the Statehouse's Grand Staircase, Patrick immediately declared, "It's a good day."

The repeal, he said, represents a "simple truth" that "in Massachusetts equal means equal. Today by repealing the nearly century old law, we affirm the right of same-sex couples from out of state to marry in Massachusetts; to enjoy all of the protections of our good laws. Today by repealing this law we continue to lead the way as a national leader. Today by repealing this law we have affirmed the Democratic principle that all people come before their government as equals."

The 1913 law was used by former Gov. Mitt Romney to prevent non-resident gay couples from coming to the Bay State to get married after the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriage in its 2004 Goodridge v. Department of Public Health decision.

Patrick was joined by House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi (D-Boston) and state Sen. Dianne Wilkerson (D-Boston), two vocal supporters of repealing the measure.

Patrick, whose remarks were frequently interrupted by applause, also signed the MassHealth Equality bill that grants same-sex couples in Massachusetts the same access to Medicaid benefits as heterosexual couples. It is the first law to codify the marriage protections extended to same-sex couples in the Goodridge decision.

 "In five years now since the Goodridge decision, the sky has not fallen, the earth has not opened to swallow us all up," Patrick said. "And more to the point, thousands and thousands of good people, contributing members of our society, are able to make free decisions about their personal choices. And we ought to seek to affirm that every chance we can."

In brief remarks, DiMasi discussed the progress Massachusetts has made in recent years on civil rights. 

"Think about Massachusetts," he said. "Think about where we have come from in Massachusetts over the years. This has been an incredible time for civil rights in the commonwealth of Massachusetts. And I am proud to be a part of that."