People no longer need to put their sex or gender identification on marriage licenses in Somerville, Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s office announced late last week.
The mayor worked with the city clerk, Kimberly Wells, to make the change.
“At its core, the purpose of a marriage license is to legally bind two individuals in love, regardless of their gender identity or expression,” Mayor Ballantyne said in a press release. “Our city believes in celebrating love in all its forms, and this change reflects our unwavering dedication to creating a Somerville where every resident is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.”
The change will not affect the state’s record-keeping concerning marriage.
“While the application for a marriage license, a form set by the Commonwealth, will continue to include a field for gender, applicants may choose to leave the field blank,” the mayor’s written statement said. “Any information entered into that field will not appear on a marriage certificate issued by the City of Somerville.”
The city says Somerville residents can update their marriage license to omit sex or gender identification by contacting the City Clerk’s office for a new copy.
Somerville followed Boston’s lead on this initiative, the Somerville press release said.
Boston became the first municipality in Massachusetts to begin offering genderless marriage certificates in late August 2023, as NewBostonPost previously reported.
In Boston, the city’s Department of Innovation and Technology (DoIT), the Mayor’s Office of LGBTQ+ Advancement, and the city’s Registry Department collaborated to make the change.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu touted the change at the time, saying it made Boston a more inclusive place.
“Our fundamental charge in public service is ensuring that our services and opportunities reach everyone, and that starts with affirming and supporting constituents of all identities,” Mayor Wu said in a press release issued by her office August 29. “Boston must continue to work to dismantle the historic inequities and injustices that persist. This update to Boston marriage licenses is a huge step in building a City that is truly inclusive, and I’m excited to see how these critical changes for accessibility at City Hall serve Bostonians.”
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