Mass. Senate Votes to Allow Out-of-State Gays to Wed

A 1913 law that blocks out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts could soon be history. The state Senate has passed a bill that would repeal the law, which former Gov. Mitt Romney used four years ago to stop gay non-residents from marrying in his state, the Boston Globe reports. Supporters of the bill called the law discriminatory and archaic.

“This is a very simple law, contrived in shame, and we ought to wipe it off the books,” said one state senator. The law, which was originally intended to prevent interracial marriage in the state, makes it illegal to marry in Massachusetts if a couple’s home state doesn’t recognize the marriage. Gov. Deval Patrick said he would “proudly” sign the repeal if the Massachusetts House passes it.