Massachusetts Supreme Court rules in favour of gay marriage.

(From Agence France Presse)

In a landmark ruling likely to spark a divisive national debate, the Massachusetts Supreme Court declared that barring gay and lesbian couples from marrying was "unconstitutional."

The close four-to-three decision opens the door for Massachusetts to become the first US state to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

"Barring an individual from the protections, benefits, and obligations of civil marriage solely because that person would marry a person of the same sex violates the Massachusetts Constitution," the court ruled.

However, the decision stopped short of actually legalising gay marriages in Massachusetts …