Lined up for a marriage license

Lined up for a marriage license

2004-05-17

The first day marriage licenses were available to us in MA - May 17, 2004. Peter Muise and Tony Grima wait in line for a marriage license at Boston City Hall. Note the sign - Boston knew there would be a big rush for these licenses, and made preparations for it. At the end of the process, the clerk who helped us slid the form we'd filled out back to us, saying that they usually just throw these forms away at this point, but that on that day, everyone wanted to keep their forms. She was visibly happy and surprised at all the positive energy and happiness that day.

Another point: We had lined up early for the license on the first day because then-Governor Mitt Romney was making noise about stopping same-sex marriages as soon as he could. We wanted to get married ASAP so that we could join any official resistance to his efforts.

Pictured: Peter Muise (on left) and Tony Grima.

Photograph by Jeff Knudsen, also in line for his marriage license.

Knudsen, Jeff

Grima, Tony; Muise, Peter

Grima, Tony

The History Project: Documenting LGBTQ Boston

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