City Hall opened its doors in a welcoming ceremony May 17 for same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses.

In a statement made beforehand, Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone said that the city would not treat same-sex couples any differently than heterosexual couples.

“Under current law, any couple seeking a license must sign an affidavit saying they know of no legal impediments to their marriage,” Curtatone said. “However, the city will leave the responsibility with same-sex couples to make such a judgment, as it does with heterosexual couples.”

“This is a fundamental question of equity and decency,” Curtatone said. “We don’t play marriage police with heterosexual couples, and we’re not going to do it with same-sex couples.”

State officials have said that same-sex couples who live in other states should not be allowed to marry in Massachusetts and they have added two questions – 6A and 14A – requiring the applicants to state where they intend to live.

“Some have suggested same-sex applicants leave the lines blank, but Somerville officials will require forms to be answered completely,” Curtatone said.

The application has also traditionally asked individuals to sign affidavits affirming that they know of no legal impediments to their marriage in their home state, Curtatone said. Applicants must sign this oath as well, but he said city officials would not question applicants as to their home state laws.

“We have never done this sort of interrogation before, and we’re not starting now,” Curtatone said. “Couples will be treated equally, whether same-sex or opposite-sex.”

City Clerk John Long seconded the mayor. “We administer this affirmation to heterosexual couples every day, but we never interrogate them about the laws in their states,” Long said. “The mayor and I believe it is inappropriate for the governor to now recommend singling out same-sex couples.”

Curtatone said the city would hand out a document advising couples of the out-of-state issue and advising them to be truthful on their forms. After that, the legal responsibility will reside with them.

“The vast majority of cities in Massachusetts are doing it our way too, they just aren’t saying so,” said Robert J. L. Publicover, director of special events for City Hall.

“It’s not our business to try to untangle the state-by-state legal webs surrounding this,” Curtatone said. “It is our business to treat people equally and with respect, and that’s what we intend to do.”

The ceremony began in front of City Hall at 8 a.m., but some city residents spent the night before on the steps of the building to be the first to receive a license from the City Clerk’s Office.

“This means everything to me – it’s the most important moment of my life, so I just hope it’s something I can look back on and say, ‘I was a part of that,’” said Julianne Gale.

Gale’s partner, Vincenza M. Martorano, said she shared her excitement and felt confident that their marriage would not be revoked by a constitutional referendum. “By the time this could come up on the ballot, I think people will have seen that this isn’t a big deal, and that my marriage isn’t going to ruin their lives,” she said.

As 8 a.m. drew nearer, more couples arrived outside City Hall.

Helene J. Rodar, a Somerville resident, came with her partner of fifteen years, Pamela J. Ryan.

“One of our friends asked if we wanted to get married in Cambridge as part of the big event last night. I said no – I live in Somerville, and I look forward to getting married here,” Rodar said.

“It’s meaningful to us because there are real benefits attached to full marriage that we’ll be able to enjoy now. We can visit each other in the hospital, and the stuff that we have jointly is really our stuff,” she said.

“I’m proud of Somerville to be overriding Romney’s request to keep out-of-state applicants away. I think that was hateful, and I’m glad the city is defying it,” Rodar said.

“I’m proud of Senator Charles Shannon and all our representatives. It makes me happy to live here,” she said.

Greg T. Bowne, who stopped by City Hall with his partner, Mark Staloff, to observe the proceedings, agreed. “It’s a great feeling to live in a city on the right side of the issue,” he said.

“It’s just nice to feel equal. I don’t know if people can appreciate the rights they already have and take for granted. For us, this is a big deal,” Staloff said.
In addition to gay and lesbian couples from Somerville, a number of the couples waiting for a marriage license came from out of state.

“As soon as we heard that this was going to be happening in Massachusetts, we wanted to come,” said Cris A. Beam, who came with her partner, Robin I. Goldman, from their home in New York City. “We decided on Somerville when we heard the other day that they were not going to be turning away people from out of state.

“A lot more people will be coming up here from New York, but many people will be waiting to see what happens as people like us come back. The New York attorney general has said he’s not going to go after people who get Massachusetts marriages,” she said.

At 8 a.m., Mayor Curtatone appeared on the steps of City Hall and welcomed the assembled audience.

“This is a city of hope,” he said. “We have always been on the side of justice and equity. No matter where you come from, today we are going to give you a license to marry. To those of you from out of state I say: Welcome to Somerville!”

State Senator Jarret T. Barrios, a major defender of gay marriage in the constitutional convention held in February and March, spoke next. He said that the day’s marriage licenses represented the culmination of a long struggle.

“All of us go to school and learn about these documents that make our country great, in particular those last five words of the Pledge of Allegiance: liberty and justice for all. As some of us got older, we learned that it is not necessarily for all,” Barrios said.

“But as Martin Luther King said, today we are following that ‘inevitable arc towards justice.’ When these doors open, we will be at the end of that arc.”

State Representative Patricia D. Jehlen spoke next to the assembled crowd.

“I’m so glad to represent Somerville today. This is not just about the decisions of four justices. This is about thousands of decisions that have been made over a long period of time. Marriages are not made on a single day. They are the public affirmation of something that has been built over years and years,” Jehlen said.

“I’ve thought a lot about this issue lately, and what gay marriage means for my marriage. I want to tell you today that the fact that you have worked so hard for this, and have achieved it today, makes my marriage more,” she said.

Upstairs, the air was festive as couples filled out applications for their marriage licenses, local politicians mingled, and onlookers dined on cake.

Alderman Robert Trane said that he found the scene inspiring. “When the aldermen voted on Thursday to disregard the governor’s request to turn away out of state couples, it was an easy vote. I thought it was very wrong of the governor to rely on a law that was intended to prevent interracial marriages. That was a big step backwards,” he said.

Senator Charles E. Shannon said he thought the recognition of gay marriages would benefit society.

“I believe society will be the better for this. People come into this world loved by two people, and they should not be forced to leave it separated from someone of their choosing,” Shannon said.

Mayor Curtatone mingled with the marriage license applicants upstairs before stepping behind the counter of the City Clerk to help receive their applications.

Curtatone said that he has received some negative responses to the city’s commitment to gay marriages.
“We’ve had some bad emails – some ignorant emails,” he said. “But from the beginning I knew we were on the right side of this in terms of justice and fairness. And I think we’re on the right side of this in terms of our legal basis. I’m proud of what we’ve done today.”