The Cambridge, Mass., city council on Monday passed a resolution officially recognizing same-sex marriages, but that doesn't mean gay couples can start applying for marriage licenses at City Hall on Tuesday. The state's highest court last week ruled it unconstitutional to bar gay couples from marriage and gave the legislature 180 days to pass laws that conform to that decision. Monday's resolution in Cambridge means that the city will be ready to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as soon as the legislature gives the OK. "We want to have the clerk ready to go at a moment's notice so as soon as possible we can issue those marriage licenses," councilor Brian Murphy said.
Many of the state's top elected officials, including Gov. Mitt Romney and Attorney General Thomas Reilly, have said they oppose same-sex marriages but would be supportive of a measure that would give gay couples the same legal rights as married heterosexual couples. Reilly has said marriage licenses issued before the legislature acts would be "null and void." "I would hope that any city or any licensing authority would respect the decision of the court," Reilly said.
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