Now that the Massachusetts courts have spoken, many gay-rights groups don't just want a domestic partnership or civil union law.

But the action has angered some gay-rights groups that have been working for years to foster tolerance of homosexuals in the schools.

Indeed, there were signs that gay-rights groups might win more concessions than appeared likely last week.

But gay-rights groups, who expressed shock tonight at the Governor's disavowal of his own agency's ruling, said he had succumbed to political pressure.

Officials of two gay-rights groups said they would not take a stand on the regulations until they had seen them.

But it threatened to unravel after gay-rights groups raised concerns about his record in Indiana.

But gay-rights groups say that doing so does not afford homosexual couples the legal benefits of marriage.

The rules were seen as a particular victory for gay-rights groups, however.

Some suggested that gay-rights groups would try to send a message by working to defeat vulnerable Republican Senators in next year's elections.