On Friday, Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza struck down Arkansas’ state ban on gay marriage, saying that the 2004 amendment’s definition of marriage as “allowable only between a man and a woman” is unconstitutional and violates the rights of same-sex couples. This opens the door for same-sex couples to wed.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the federal government must recognize same-sex marriages,?federal judges have ruled against marriage bans in Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Texas. Some other states, including Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee, have been ordered by courts to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
A week before the Arkansas judge’s ruling on Friday, Arkansas?Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat, announced that he personally supports marriage equality?but that he will continue to defend the constitutional ban in court. McDaniel’s office is expected to appeal Judge?Piazza’s ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.
McDaniel’s stance isn’t unusual. Gay-rights groups report that Democratic attorneys general in several states ? including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Oregon, and Kentucky ? have declined to defend same-sex marriage bans in their states.?McDaniel?is in his final year as attorney general and is the first statewide elected official in Arkansas to support marriage equality. Other high level officials, including Democratic Gov. ? ? Mike Beebe and Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor?have said that they?still oppose gay marriage rights.
Source: ABC News
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Tiffany Willis is the founder and editor-in-chief of Liberal America. An unapologetic member of the Christian Left, she has spent most of her career actively working with ?the least of these? and disadvantaged and oppressed populations. She’s passionate about their struggles. To stay on top of topics she discusses,?like her?Facebook page,?follow her on Twitter, or?connect with her via LinkedIn. She also has a?grossly neglected personal blog?and a?literary quotes blog that is a labor of love. Find her somewhere and join the discussion.
