Posted on 07/21/2006 12:46:14 PM PDT by NYer
BOSTON (Reuters) - The lesbian couple whose landmark lawsuit helped Massachusetts become the only state in America where same-sex couples can marry legally have split up, a spokeswoman said on Friday.
Julie and Hillary Goodridge and six other gay and lesbian couples sued Massachusetts for the right to marry and won when the state's highest court ruled narrowly for them in 2003.
Their suit helped spark a nationwide debate on gay marriage.
The women "are amicably living apart," Mary Breslauer, a spokeswoman for the couple said. "As always their number one priority is raising their daughter, and like the other plaintiff couples in this case, they made an enormous contribution toward equal marriage. But they are no longer in the public eye, and request that their privacy be respected."
They have not filed for divorce.
Julie and Hillary Goodridge married on May 17, 2004, the first day same-sex couples were allowed to wed, in a festive ceremony attended by dozens of journalists.
Their daughter, Annie, accompanied the women down the aisle serving as ring bearer and flower girl while guests hummed "Here Come the Brides."
News of their split upset many who had supported their quest for same-sex marriage. "We are very sad for them," said Carisa Cunningham, a spokeswoman for the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Two states -- Connecticut and Vermont -- have legalized same-sex civil unions. California, Hawaii, Maine, New Jersey and Washington, D.C., offer gay and lesbian couples some legal rights as partners.
The debate over gay marriage recently has heated up again in Massachusetts after the state's Supreme Judicial Court last week ruled that voters can decide whether to ban same-sex unions.
If enough lawmakers in the state's legislature approve the measure, it will be put on the 2008 ballot for a popular vote.
Ping!
I hope She take Her to the cleaners!
This is all show. Probably planned from the start to show how there is no difference in a normal marriage. They were wrong when they started this and they are still wrong.
How does that work?
Gay "marriage" - Supported and encouraged by other gays and divorce lawyers.
When you call it "same-sex marriage" rather than a sodomite relationship, you play into the hands of the queers.
Typical liberal mindset. Throw a tantrum - get their way - loose interest and move on. A true sign of a mature outlook.
A lovely dinner.Some Chablis.A light-in-the-loafers X chromosome friend...
A turkey baster...
After they put their sex life on display for all the world, they now request privacy?
There they go......Lickety-Split!
"Your Honor, I request a divorce from my husband/wife because I discovered that he/she is a Lesbian."
Judge: "Oh yeah? What part of Lesbia is she from?"
rimshot . . .
BWAAAA!
C'mon...please don't use 'rimshot' and 'lesbian' in the same post. My fragile imagination can't deal with that combo.
Bang goes another mouthful of coffee!
If I keep dealing with you guys I'm going to have to keep a bathtowel and a bottle of windex on my desk.
(For more yucks check out the Australian Drinking Study below.)
It was always more about tearing down laws, barriers, and morals.
The gay couple (triangle actually) in Lawrence v. Texas split up too. And the jealous (and abuse lover) who placed the call that day was murdered (while an assault charge against his lover was about to go to trial).
It is the sordid love that won't shut up (but that is very very fickle).
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