Baker v. State 170 Vt. 194 (1999) and Goodrich v. Department of Public Health SJC-08860 Mass. (2003) are the two higher-court cases that have resulted in a grant of marital rights for homosexuals. In Vermont, the Court required of the Legislature to grant “civil unions” or an equivalent of marriage to homosexuals. In Massachusetts, the Court imposed upon the Commonwealth the requirement to use the word “marriage” in addition to the right to a civil union by homosexuals. The State (not particularly desirous to defend marriage), with the aid of amici curæ briefs from various “religious right” groups made several...