Massachusetts to Recognize Gay Utah Marriages

Massachusetts will recognize same-sex marriages that were performed in Utah before they were put on hold by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Attorney General Martha Coakley's office said on Thursday that it believes marriages in Utah were validly performed and should be recognized in Massachusetts, the first state in the nation to legalize gay marriage.

A federal judge overturned Utah's ban on same-sex marriage on Dec. 20, but within weeks the U.S. Supreme Court halted the weddings until the courts sort out the matter. Utah officials then said they would not recognize weddings that occurred during the interim period.

A spokesman for the group MassEquality says at least four other states have also indicated they will recognize Utah marriages.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced last week the federal government would recognize the weddings.