Federal judge: Florida gay-marriage ban unconstitutional
Source: Miami Herald
A federal judge on Thursday ruled Florida's gay-marriage ban unconstitutional and ordered the state to recognize marriages legally performed elsewhere. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, however, immediately stayed his order until after the appeals process is completed.
“When observers look back 50 years from now, the arguments supporting Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage, though just as sincerely held, will again seem an obvious pretext for discrimination,” Hinkle wrote. “Observers who are not now of age will wonder just how those views could have been held.”
Hinkle’s ruling comes after 22 individuals including nine married couples sued Florida to recognize their marriages or grant them marriage licenses. Plaintiffs in the case include eight same-sex couples from South Florida and and LGBT-rights group SAVE.
“While we are overjoyed that the judge erred on the side of fairness by ordering the state of Florida recognize the legal marriages of the plaintiffs, we will continue to make the case that it is Florida’s responsibility to recognize the legal marriages of ALL same-sex couples, and not only those named as plaintiffs in our suit,” SAVE Executive Director Tony Lima said in a statement. “SAVE will continue to advocate for a pro-equality ruling as the court examines the case further in the weeks and months ahead.”
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/08/21/4301754/federal-judge-florida-gay-marriage.html
