COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS


                                                               Superior Court
                                                               No.



Hillary Goodridge and Julie Goodridge,

David Wilson and Robert Compton,

Michael Horgan and Edward Bahnelli,

Maureen Brodoff and Ellen Wade,            *    VERIFIED COMPLAINT
                                           *
Gary Chalmers and Richard Linnell,         *
                                           *
Heidi Norton and Gina Smith,               *
                                           *
and                                        *
                                           *
Gloria Bailey and Linda Davies,            *
                                           *
                      Plaintiffs           *
                                           *
       V.                                  *
                                           *
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH,               *
                                           *
and                                        *
                                           *
DR. HOWARD KOH, in his official            *
capacity as Commissioner of the            *
Department of Public Health,               *
                                           *
                      Defendants           *
                                           *
***************************************



                                  Introduction

1.    This civil rights action alleges that seven gay and lesbian couples have been

      deprived of the freedom to join in civil marriage with the person they love in

      violation of the law of the Commonwealth.