Bay State CUs Ponder GayMarriages

SOUTHBOROUGH, Mass. - (05/19/04) --The legalization of same-sexmarriages in this state means that credit unions must now beprepared to deal with a new set of spouses. But what it means tocredit unions in other states remains very much a "gray area,"according to CUNA's General Counsel, Eric Richard. "I think itdepends on the attorney general in every state," said Richard. "Andmy guess is that it's going to go to the Supreme Court in the end.Each state is going to have to take a position. A credit uniondoesn't have to go along, but it's taking a risk if it doesn't."Rob Kimmett, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts CU League, saidthe league is not preparing to send any special notice toaffiliates. "We'll likely say something in our publications, butbecause it's like any other marriage, it's simple to deal with," hesaid. More than 500 couples had applied for marriage licenses onthe first day same-sex marriages were permitted inMassachusetts.