Judge lets Utah gay marriages continue while conservative state fights it | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
Subscribe

Would you like to subscribe to our newsletter?

Current Conditions Mostly Cloudy  13.6°C

Judge lets Utah gay marriages continue while conservative state fights it

Chris Serrano, left, and Clifton Webb embrace after being married, as people wait in line to get licenses outside of the marriage division of the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City, Friday, Dec. 20, 2013. A federal judge ruled on Friday that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)

SALT LAKE CITY - A federal judge has allowed gay marriage in Utah to continue.

Judge Richard Shelby on Monday denied a request by the conservative state that wanted to stop gay marriages until an appeals process plays out.

The same judge overturned Utah's ban on same-sex marriage Friday, ruling it is unconstitutional.

The ruling drew attention given Utah's long-standing opposition to gay marriage and its position as headquarters for the Mormon church.

Lawyers for the state are waging a legal battle on several fronts as they seek to stop the same-sex weddings.

Hundreds of gay couples lined up Monday for a chance to get married. Clerks in several counties were issuing marriage licenses.

"We're going to do it until the judge says stop," said Kerri Nakamura, who was helping people process licenses.

The federal judge surprised one of the most conservative states in the U.S. on Friday by ruling that the ban violates gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights. More than 100 couples wed in the following hours as others cheered them on.

For now, Utah has joined California, New York and others to become the 18th state where same-sex couples can legally wed.

Utah is home to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one of the leading forces behind California's short-lived ban on same-sex marriage.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has said it stands by its support for "traditional marriage" and that it hopes a higher court validates its belief that marriage is between a man and woman.

Friday's ruling brought an angry reaction from Republican Gov. Gary Herbert, who said he was disappointed in an "activist federal judge attempting to override the will of the people of Utah."

News from © The Associated Press, 2013
The Associated Press

  • Popular kamloops News
View Site in: Desktop | Mobile