BREAKING: Arkansas Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

@AP: BREAKING: Judge strikes down Arkansas' constitutional gay marriage ban; state expected to appeal.

ARKANSAS JUDGE STRIKES DOWN GAY MARRIAGE BAN

By ANDREW DEMILLO
— May. 9, 2014 6:05 PM EDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge on Friday struck down the state's ban on gay marriage, opening the door for gay couples to wed.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said 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.

The ruling came nearly a week after state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced he personally supports gay marriage rights but that he will continue to defend the constitutional ban in court.

McDaniel's office is expected to quickly appeal Piazza's ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/arkansas-judge-strikes-down-gay-marriage-ban

[louis-t]

1. The more this happens, the harder it will be for

right-wing idiots to stop. Who is the Attorney general representing? Certainly not the majority of people, even in his very red state. Unconstitutional means unconstitutional.

[Swede Atlanta]

2. Great news but this is at the bottom of the food chain...

This was a local circuit judge. This judge had authority to issue this ruling but this will wind through the Arkansas legal system potentially for years.

So while this is another state where at least one judge has deemed anti-marriage equality measures unconstitutional, this one will take its time.

[awoke_in_2003]

3. Another one bites the dust...

K&R

[Iwillnevergiveup]

4. That would make Arkansas #18

Here's a cool, compact history of gay marriage rights:

http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857