Gay marriage to continue in Utah
Utah is the 18th state to permit gay marriage, and a federal judge ruled Monday that the marriages may continue. The state requested that gay marriage be made illegal, but Judge Richard Shelby denied the request. However, an appeal was issued by the state Office of the Attorney General to have the judge’s ruling stayed. Republican Gov. Gary Herbert also expressed discontent at the ruling, calling Shelby an “activist federal judge attempting to override the will of the people of Utah.”
The appeal may not hinder couples’ ability to get married though. Jolene Abbott and Colleen Mewing plan to get married in Utah on Monday, even though they were married already in Washington state. “An attorney friend of ours told us that if the appeal goes through they might still recognize the marriages that have occurred in Utah so far, but couples married outside of the state might not be recognized,” Abbott said.
Executive director of Marriage Equality in New York, Brian Silva, also supported the motion. “We’re thrilled that this decision continues the process of decisions across the country that support the right of gay and lesbian couples to get married and have their love and families protected equally under the law.”
