WORCESTER, Mass. -- Lee and Judi McNeil-Beckwith of Providence met over
a patient's hospital bed. It was another few years before the two nurses
would begin dating.
They eventually bought a house together and adopted a common last name.
They've been together seven years.
But it wasn't until this week that they really believed they could be
legally married. Today, they went to Worcester City Hall to say their
vows, with Judi's 17-year-old daughter in tow.
On Monday, Massachusetts began accepting applications for marriage
licenses from same-sex couples, making it the first state in the nation
to do so. The move followed a ruling by the state's highest court, which
found Massachusetts could not exclude gay and lesbian couples from
marriage.
Judi proposed to Lee on Sunday in the rose garden at Roger William Park
in Providence.
But they didn't rush up to apply for a marriage license early Monday --
they waited to hear what Rhode Island Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch
had to say.
After Lynch said he did not see a prohibition against gay marriage in
Rhode Island law, they drove to Worcester to file for a license. On
Tuesday, it was off to the doctor for premarital blood tests, which came
back today.
The McNeil-Beckwiths plan to hold a celebration with family and friends
later, but wanted to go through with the marriage at the first
opportunity.
The licenses issued Monday came with a three-day waiting period, and
while some couples obtained waivers and married earlier this week, many
weddings were expected to take place today.
"We want that piece of paper," Lee said.
Gov. Mitt Romney contends the piece of paper they are seeking cannot be
issued legally.
He has said that under a 1913 statute, couples whose marriages would be
illegal in their home state cannot marry in Massachusetts, and has asked
for the records from four municipalities -- including Worcester -- where
officials said they would not enforce the residency requirement.
But while they know the issue may end up in court, the McNeil-Beckwiths
believe the license is valid, citing Lynch's opinion. The attorney
general said the law suggests the state would recognize any marriage
legally performed in another state, "unless doing so would run contrary
to the strong public policy of this state."
And, the couple said, was what they had been waiting for. For several
years, Judi has worn a diamond ring from Lee, but the two had never held
a commitment ceremony.
"We were waiting for the real thing," Judi said on Tuesday.
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