MASS. TOWN CLERKS NOTIFIED OF SSM LICENSE TRAINING: From the Boston Globe

In the state's first official acknowledgment that gay and lesbian couples can legally marry in May, town and city clerks were notified this week that they will be trained to issue marriage licenses for same-sex couples.

The clerks were given few details about the training, scheduled for early May, just days before same-sex couples can legally wed on May 17. It is the first signal that state officials are planning for gay marriage, despite Governor Mitt Romney's assertion that he is considering asking the Supreme Judicial Court to stay its decision allowing same-sex couples to marry. ...

But a spokeswoman for Romney, who as head of the executive branch of government controls the Department of Public Health, declined yesterday to acknowledge that the training was scheduled.

"I have no knowledge of training being scheduled," said Nicole St. Peter. "At the appropriate time, the administration will communicate with city and town clerks. Currently, it's premature to do that." ...

If the convention passes an amendment, Romney could make the argument that the SJC ruling should be stayed until the amendment goes before voters in 2006. Opponents of gay marriage have argued that allowing gay couples to marry could create legal chaos if voters eventually approve a ban. ...

State officials also are preparing forms, scheduled to be available by May 17, with gender-appropriate language for same-sex couples who request marriage licenses, Hutchenrider said. "The attorneys are going over them," she said. And the registry is working on other new vital records forms, such as birth records, where language may need to be changed to reflect same-sex couples, she said.

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posted by Eve at 4:50 PM | link

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