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SOMERVILLE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — The City of Somerville announced Tuesday morning that they are removing some requirements for marriage certificates.
Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and City Clerk Kimberly Wells said that they have updated the marriage certification process to no longer require sex or gender identification. Ballantyne and Wells said this is part of their commitment to making Somerville a more equitable environment for all residents.
“At its core, the purpose of a marriage license is to legally bind two individuals in love, regardless of their gender identity or expression,” said Ballantyne. “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 Commonwealth still includes a field for gender identification on marriage license applications, but Somerville residents can leave that section blank. Any information about gender entered on the marriage application will not appear on Somerville’s marriage certificate.
When requested, residents can also get their marriage certificate reprinted to not include sex or gender identification if they had previously received a marriage certificate from Somerville.
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