Press Release  AG Healey Seeks Testimonials for Supreme Court Marriage Equality Brief

Boston — In an effort to demonstrate to the United States Supreme Court the wide range and extensive support marriage equality has received in Massachusetts, Attorney General Maura Healey is asking for testimonials from residents throughout the state.

The AG's Office will be filing a friend of the court brief in support of marriage equality in the cases before the Supreme Court that will decide whether state bans on same-sex marriage violate the Constitution.

“Marriage equality has made Massachusetts a stronger and more equal home for all our residents,” AG Healey said. “We want to make that case directly to the court. I am hopeful that the justices are ready to choose equality.”

Those interested in submitting testimonials, either in writing or by video, can contribute on the Attorney General's Facebook page at Facebook.com/MassAttorneyGeneral. They can also show their support on Twitter by tweeting to @MassAGO and by using the hashtag #MA4Equality.

Some testimonials may be included in the AG Healey’s brief for the Supreme Court, which is scheduled to be filed on March 6.

In 2004, following the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Goodridge v. Dep't of Public Health, Massachusetts became the first state to allow same-sex couples to marry. Since that time, more than 20,000 same-sex couples have married in the Commonwealth.

In 2009, AG Healey led the Commonwealth’s successful challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), arguing that the law discriminated against married Massachusetts couples and their children. In June 2013, the Supreme Court struck down DOMA as unconstitutional.

In April, the Supreme Court is expected to decide whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry everywhere in America. The justices will consider cases that ask them to overturn gay marriage bans in four states. The decision is expected in June.

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