Out-of-state gay marriage closer in Massachusetts

By Kevin McNicholas and Scott Malone

BOSTON (Reuters) - Massachusetts lawmakers cleared the way for out-of-state same-sex couples to marry in the state by voting on Tuesday to repeal a 1913 law that banned marriages not considered valid in the couples' home states.

Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat whose daughter has come out as a lesbian, has said he plans to sign the repeal measure.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives approved the repeal by a vote of 118-35. The state Senate approved it earlier this month.

"While we'll never get complacent, we're getting close to the point where the question of marriage equality in Massachusetts is settled," said Marc Solomon, executive director of MassEquality, a state-wide group that promotes the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

"You'll never get everyone to vote your way, but 118 to 35 is getting close," he said.

Massachusetts in 2004 became the first U.S. state to permit legal marriages of same-sex couples, but then-Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican, told state officials to obey the 1913 law, which dates back to a time when some American states banned interracial marriages.

In June, California, the most populous U.S. state, began marrying same-sex couples. It issues marriage licenses to couples from other states.

Opponents of same-sex marriage said the vote amounted to an attempt to impose gay marriage on other states.