20th anniversary of same-sex marriage in Mass. celebrated

Kinga Borondy, Worcester Telegram & Gazette
·1 min read
Former Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of marriage equality Friday at the Arlington Street Church in Boston.
Former Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an event to commemorate the 20th anniversary of marriage equality Friday at the Arlington Street Church in Boston.
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BOSTON — Twenty years after Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, activists and former officials gathered at the Arlington Street Church for a celebration. Among those on hand were David Wilson and Rob Compton, two of the plaintiffs in the Goodrich v. Department of Public Health case that led to the Supreme Judicial Court's landmark 2003 decision. They were married May 17, 2004, in the same church. Former Gov. Deval Patrick described his pride that Massachusetts led the way for the rest of the country, and urged the audience to continue to embrace causes that facilitate and promote justice.

Former Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of marriage equality at the Arlington Street Church in Boston Friday. Seated behind is Marc Solomon, former executive director of MassEquality, and Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie.
Former Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of marriage equality at the Arlington Street Church in Boston Friday. Seated behind is Marc Solomon, former executive director of MassEquality, and Rev. Kim Crawford Harvie.
David Wilson and Robert Compton speak during an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of marriage equality at the Arlington Street Church in Boston Friday. They were plaintiffs in the Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health case and were the first to get married at Arlington Street Church 20 years ago.
David Wilson and Robert Compton speak during an event to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of marriage equality at the Arlington Street Church in Boston Friday. They were plaintiffs in the Goodridge v. Dept. of Public Health case and were the first to get married at Arlington Street Church 20 years ago.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 20th anniversary of same-sex marriage in Mass. celebrated