Gov. Romney recently invoked a 1913 statute that prevents any out-of-state couple from marrying in Massachusetts. Clerks from thirteen Massachusetts towns including Worchester have appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court to overturn the ban. 

"We refuse to silently stand by and blindly carry out orders that are discriminatory," said David Rushford, clerk of Worcester to TownOnline.com. "If local officials had refused to carry out racially discriminatory state policies during the civil rights movement, we would have hailed their actions. Today, we have the opportunity to say no to discrimination in carrying out our duties, and we hope the court will recognize the importance of our ability to do that." 

April Broma reporting for antiMusic.