Romney says he must obey law on marriage for out-of-state gay couples

CONCORD, N.H. -- Governor Mitt Romney all but admitted defeat yesterday in his effort to appeal a Suffolk Superior Court ruling that allows gay couples from Rhode Island to get married in Massachusetts.

``I have to follow the law," a resigned Romney said in an interview at the Republican State Convention in Concord, N.H., where he delivered the keynote address. ``This is a nation of laws, even if I don't like them."

The governor's concession was made a day after Attorney General Thomas F. Reilly said he would not appeal the decision, despite a letter Romney had sent urging him to do so. The decision disappointed Romney as he looks to solidify his conservative credentials for a potential 2008 presidential run.

For the first time, the ruling makes it possible for gay couples from outside Massachusetts to come to the state and be granted marriage licenses. Issued Friday by Judge Thomas E. Connolly , the decision said Romney and Reilly cannot use a 1913 law to block Rhode Island couples from marrying in Massachusetts because Rhode Island's laws do not explicitly ban gay marriage.

Romney, who has said he does not want Massachusetts to become ``the Las Vegas of gay marriage," said the only option left is for Congress to approve a Constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. The amendment would then need the approval of three-fourths of the states.

President Bush has also called for such an amendment, but Congress has not approved it. Romney yesterday reiterated his call for a similar amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, which he hopes to place on the ballot in November 2008.

``Let the citizens decide," Romney said. ``And I'm confident that if the citizens decide it in the privacy of a voting booth, they'll protect traditional marriage."

At the convention, held at the Capital Center for the Arts, several hundred Republicans enthusiastically applauded Romney, who delivered a speech in which he spoke about his experience managing the 2002 Winter Olympics, urged the nation to produce more scientists to compete with Asian nations, and expressed support for the ``sanctity of marriage and the foundational nature of the family."

``You and I agree on something about that, and that is my Supreme Judicial Court made a monumental error in saying that our Constitution in Massachusetts requires people of the same gender to marry," Romney said as Republicans cheered. ``I disagree with them on that. I think John Adams would disagree with them on that, as well."

Marriage, he said, is not a relationship ``just about adults."

``Marriage is primarily about the development and nurturing of children, and every child deserves a mother and a father," Romney said to more cheers and applause.

Romney has been trying to lock up support in New Hampshire, where the early primary makes it an important state in presidential elections. Last week, the Commonwealth PAC, a political committee Romney is using to help lay the groundwork for a possible presidential run, signed up Tom Rath , a former New Hampshire attorney general, as its senior adviser. The committee has also doled out more than $100,000 to the New Hampshire GOP.

Wayne Semprini , the party's chairman, told delegates yesterday that Romney gave $60,000 to the state party this summer, when money was so tight ``the lights were flickering" at party headquarters. He also reminded delegates that Romney owns a home in New Hampshire, on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.

``We do love the state, as you all know," Romney's wife, Ann , said in brief remarks to the convention.

Delegates said yesterday that they were impressed with Romney.

``I think his message was excellent," said Norm Olsen , 54, of Portsmouth . ``He has some real experience in solving big problems."

Michael Levenson can be reached at mlevenson@globe.com.