Same-sex couples across US marry after landmark Supreme Court non-decision
By RYAN GORMAN
Same-sex couples in multiple states across America are getting married after Monday morning's landmark Supreme Court decision to not hear same-sex marriage cases.
The nation's highest court paved the way for legalized gay marriages in 11 states Monday by voting against hearing petitions of lower court decisions that struck down laws restricting the unions.
Same-sex marriage licenses are already being issued in Colorado, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin, and are expected to soon begin in Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Pictures from those states showed joyous couples lining up to have their applications processed.
Many shed tears of joy as they were married, others smiled from ear to ear.
County clerks in Wyoming were reportedly declining marriage license applications Monday afternoon or insisting they did not know how to process them. Officials in "The Equality State" defiantly insisted their ban remained legal, according to reports.
Debbye Lathrop Laramie Co. #Wyoming clerk also said she will not issue same-sex marriage licenses until she gets a directive. #lgbt
- Laura Hancock (@laurahancock) October 6, 2014
Natrona Co. clerk #Wyoming says she's not issuing any gay marriage licenses until the law is changed or she has order from judge. #lgbt
- Laura Hancock (@laurahancock) October 6, 2014
Sublette County Clerk has no idea what to do with same sex marriage applications, seeking legal direction.
- Ned Donovan (@Ned_Donovan) October 6, 2014
Laramie County is neither accepting nor denying the applications. Rather, it is putting them into a pending status while waiting for the legal situation to be sorted out.
Wyoming's justification for not recognizing the applications is on the grounds it's state constitution clearly defines marriage as between a man and a woman. The stipulation was originally made during the state's founding in order to prevent polygamy.
Legal experts believe an injunction will have to be granted by a federal court in order for same-sex marriages in the state to proceed.
seek an injunction from a Federal district court, which will come faster than the state's ruling in December. According to @RichardGrayson
- Ned Donovan (@Ned_Donovan) October 6, 2014
Monday's non-decision came 16 years to the day that Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old college student, was tortured in Wyoming for being gay. He died six days later.
It is not clear when marriage licenses will be issued to couples in the other states.
A total of 30 states, plus the District of Columbia, now have legalized same-sex marriage. The remaining 20 states have constitutional bans on the unions.
Related links:
Supreme Court effectively legalizes same-sex marriage in 11 more states
Pope seeks 'sincere, open' debate on family issues
