Massachusetts same-sex marriage pioneers split up

    The lesbian couple whose landmark lawsuit helped Massachusetts become the only state in America where same-sex couples can marry legally have split up, a spokeswoman said on Friday.

    Julie and Hillary Goodridge and six other gay and lesbian couples sued Massachusetts for the right to marry and won when the state's highest court ruled narrowly for them in 2003.

    Their suit helped spark a nationwide debate on gay marriage.

    They have not filed for divorce.