If all people are entitled to equal rights and marriage confers exclusive rights then, yes, all people should be entitled to marry.

That's the sound logic of Tuesday's historic ruling by the Supreme Judicial Court requiring the Massachusetts Legislature to legalize marriage by same-sex couples.

Just as important, this ruling dignifies the relationships of gay and lesbian couples, putting them on a par with those of heterosexual couples.

This is compassionate and reflects the reality that some people find fulfillment with someone of the same sex.

These couples may be a small percentage of the population but their actual numbers are large. Gay couples represent 1.3 percent of the households in Massachusetts, which is one of the highest concentrations in the country.

These thousands and thousands of men and women deserve the rights granted them by the SJC. We urge the Legislature to move forthrightly when it reconvenes in January to bring state laws into compliance with Tuesday's ruling. The court set a 180-day deadline for this.

It's important to note that the gay marriages that the SJC said the state constitution permits are civil marriages only. Marriage as a religious institution remains entirely subject to the tenets of individual faiths. Some faiths sanction gay unions; some don't.

Meanwhile, we recognize that the Legislature may pass a constitutional amendment -- proposed by state Rep. Philip Travis of Rehoboth -- that would define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

We are confident that after voters become conversant with the issues involved in civil marriage of gays and lesbians that they will reject this constitutional amendment.

That sentiment apparently already exists in the 10 communities served by The Sun Chronicle, based on the findings of a recent poll done by Stonehill College. That survey found 56.7 percent of the respondents would oppose Travis' bill.

We're heartened by that generosity of spirit and look forward to the day when gay couples can receive all the rights now conferred on married couples.