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Sidebar:
Full Text of Proposed Act

An Act Relative to Marriage 

Chapter 207 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after Section 4 the following section: 

Section 4A. A marriage is a civil contract and shall be defined as a legal relationship between one man and one woman, who consent to take each other exclusively as husband and wife, provided that each person has attained the age of eighteen years, is of sound mind, and is not related by consanguinity, whether by half or whole blood, no closer than the fourth degree. 

Section 4B. Any other relationship shall not be recognized as a marriage, or its legal equivalent, or receive the benefits exclusive to marriage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a  matter of public policy. 

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The bill was sponsored by John Rogers (D-12th Norfolk) and House Minority Leader Francis Marini (R-6th Plymouth). Cosponsors are Edward G. Connolly (D-31st Middlesex), Vinnie M. deMacedo (R-1st Plymouth), James R. Miceli (D-20th Middlesex) and Elizabeth Poirier (R-14th Bristol).

Related:
Marriage has new defenders on Beacon Hill
February 7, 2001

WBZ/Channel 4 News' favors gay marriage
February 7, 2001