 Massachusetts made history when it became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage in November 2003, just a few months before Jay and Brooke said, I do. Knowing that, why didn't they just get married in Massachusetts? Well, Massachusetts wouldn't actually start handing out marriage licenses until the spring. But notably, on February 24th, three days before the New Paltz weddings, this happened. Local authorities are presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization.