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Family Law Expert Available to Comment
on Same-Sex Marriage Ruling
NORTHAMPTON, Mass. -- Alice
Hearst, associate professor of government at Smith College
and an expert on legal and legislative issues regarding family
and marriage, is available to discuss today's ruling of the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in favor of same-sex
marriage.
Hearst described the decision
as "remarkable," both
for what it affirms and what it denies.
"The opinion recognizes
the need for publicly acknowledging same-sex unions and equates
denying same-sex couples the benefits of marriage to the
denial of a civil right.
"Even more, the court held
that justifications for denying the right to marry to same-sex
couples did not even meet the "rational basis test" --
a standard that almost always results in deference to the
legislative determination."
While stopping short of requiring
that marriage licenses be issued, the opinion, Hearst says, "redefines
civil marriage as 'the voluntary union of two persons as
spouses,' overturning the common-law definition of marriage
as the union between a man and a woman."
Hearst can be
reached at (413) 585-3528 or ahearst@smith.edu. After hours:
(413) 582-0480.
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Office of College
Relations
Smith College
Garrison Hall
Northampton, Massachusetts 01063 |
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Marti
Hobbes
News Assistant
T (413) 585-2190
F (413) 585-2174
mhobbes@email.smith.edu
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