At the time of those first weddings, the debate was red-hot -- protests were frequent, expectations ran high that legislators would allow a referendum on whether to overturn the court ruling ordering same-sex marriage. Now, although Roman Catholic leaders and some conservative activists remain vocally opposed, there is overwhelming political support for same-sex marriage and no prospect for a referendum.

According to the latest state figures, through September 2008, there had been 12,167 same-sex marriages in Massachusetts -- 64 percent of them between women -- out of 170,209 marriages in all. Some consequences have been tangible -- a boom for gay-friendly wedding businesses, the exit of a Roman Catholic charity from the adoption business -- and some almost defy description.