, along with the city of San Francisco and gay rights groups . A lower court had ruled San Francisco acted illegally in issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004 . In its 4-3 ruling , the state Supreme Court called marriage a `` basic civil right . '' Opponents of same-sex marriage have said a constitutional marriage amendment should be placed on the November ballot , and that national efforts should be made to generate a federal marriage amendment . A constitutional amendment initiative that would specify marriage is only between a man and a woman is awaiting verification by the California Secretary of State 's office after its sponsors said they had gathered enough signatures to place it on a statewide ballot . Massachusetts legalized same-sex marriages in 2004 , and gay couples need not be state residents there to wed. . However , then-Gov . Mitt Romney resurrected a 1913 law barring non-resident marriages in the state if the marriage would be prohibited in the partners ' home state . Subsequent court and agency decisions have determined that only residents of Massachusetts , Rhode Island and New Mexico may marry in Massachusetts , unless the parties
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Same-sex couples in California may be able to obtain marriage licenses on June 17 , state officials said Wednesday . Marriage licenses for same-sex couples may be available in June , officials said . The California Supreme Court struck down the state 's ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional in a May 15 ruling , clearing the way for the state to become the second to legalize such marriages . The state Department of Public Health -- which serves as State Registrar and oversees vital records -- said in an announcement that June 16 is the last day the state Supreme Court can rule on any requests for re-hearing . It released new marriage license forms for counties to use beginning the following day . The new forms , which were also released , have lines for `` Party A '' and `` Party B. '' However , the `` general information '' page for California marriage licenses still stated as of Wednesday that `` only an unmarried male and an unmarried female may marry in California . '' The California Supreme Court issued the ruling in a consolidated case involving several gay and lesbian couples