City of Somerville Announces Sex and Gender Identification No Longer Required to Receive a Marriage Certificate

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and City Clerk Kimberly M. Wells are pleased to announce that the City of Somerville has updated its marriage certification process, so partners are no longer compelled to share their sex or gender identification. The update is part of Somerville’s ongoing commitment to creating a more equitable environment for all residents, and mirrors the recent example set by the City of Boston. 

“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 Mayor 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." 

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. Any information entered into that field will not appear on a marriage certificate issued by the City of Somerville. 

Residents who have previously received a marriage certificate from the City of Somerville that contains a sex or gender identifier and who wish to have it reprinted without that identifier should contact the City Clerk’s office in person at City Hall, via email at cityclerksoffice@somervillema.gov, or by phone at (617) 625-6600 x4100. 

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the ADA Coordinator, Adrienne Pomeroy, at 617-625-6600 x2259 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.