Federal Judge Says Kentucky Must Recognize Gay Marriage

[King_David]

A federal judge in Kentucky issued a final ruling that struck down parts of the state’s 2004 ban on gay marriage and requires the state to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.

U.S. District Judge John Heyburn II signed the order Thursday, the Associated Press reports, making official his Feb. 12 ruling that said the state’s ban on gay marriages treated “gay and lesbian persons differently in a way that demeans them.”

The order does not require Kentucky to issue marriage licenses to gay couples—the subject of a related lawsuit. However, same-sex couples in Kentucky can now change their names on official documents and receive other benefits enjoyed by married couples.



Read more: Kentucky Must Recognize Gay Marriage: Federal Judge | TIME.com http://nation.time.com/2014/02/27/kentucky-gay-marriage/#ixzz2uZBzB8lM

[theHandpuppet]

1. The response to this should be interesting

I peruse the Cincinnati Enquirer fairly often (they also have a Northern Kentucky edition) so I'll let y'all know if I spot some responses worth passing along. I'm particularly interested in whether this ruling will effect the campaign of Alison Lundergan Grimes, and how.

[theHandpuppet]

2. Okay, a followup...

From the Louisville paper, a comments section following the ruling:
http://www.courier-journal.com/comments/article/20140212/NEWS10/302120050/Gay-marriage-Kentucky-gains-foothold-federal-judge-s-ruling

And for some more news, also from the Louisville paper:
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20140227/NEWS10/302270034/Gay-couples-rushing-to-take-advantage-of-order-recognizing-same-sex-marriages-in-Kentucky
Gay couples rushing to take advantage of order recognizing same-sex marriages in Kentucky
Feb. 28, 2014