] The Massachusetts high court ruled Wednesday that only
] full, equal marriage rights for gay couples -- rather
] than civil unions -- would be constitutional, erasing any
] doubts that the nation's first same-sex marriages could
] take place in the state beginning in mid-May.
]
]
] The court issued the opinion in response to a request
] from the state Senate about whether Vermont-style civil
] unions, which convey the state benefits of marriage --
] but not the title -- would meet constitutional muster.
]
]
] "The history of our nation has demonstrated that separate
] is seldom, if ever, equal," the four justices who ruled
] in favor of gay marriage wrote in the advisory opinion. A
] bill that would allow for civil unions, but falls short
] of marriage, makes for "unconstitutional, inferior, and
] discriminatory status for same-sex couples."

CNN.com - Massachusetts high court: Same-sex couples entitled to marry - Feb. 4, 2004