Judge overturns gay marriage ban in Nevada, Idaho
Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals from several states on their gay marriage bans, federal appeals courts in Nevada and Idaho struck down similar bans, legalize same-sex marriages.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that gay marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho were a violation of equal protection rights.
Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote, “Idaho and Nevada’s marriage laws, by preventing same-sex couples from marrying and refusing to recognize same-sex marriages celebrated elsewhere, impose profound legal, financial, social and psychic harms on numerous citizens of those states.” Advocates of the bans argued that gay marriage devalued traditional marriage and led to more births between unwed parents.
In response, Reinhardt wrote, “This proposition reflects a crass and callous view of parental love and the parental bond that is not worthy of response. We reject it out of hand.”
“This is a super sweet victory,” said Sue Latta to ABC, who along with Traci Ehlers sued Idaho last year to compel the state to recognize their 2008 marriage in California. Three other couples also joined the lawsuit to invalidate Idaho’s same-sex marriage ban.
“Taxes are easier, real estate is easier, parenting is easier, end-of-life planning is easier,” Latta said.
Couples in Idaho could get married immediately, likely tomorrow. In Nevada, a U.S. District Court judge still must issue a formal injunction overturning the state’s gay marriage ban.
All three judges on the panel were appointed by Democratic presidents. President Bill Clinton appointed Judges Marsha Berzon and Ronald Gould. President Jimmy Carter appointed Reinhardt.
The court also has jurisdiction in three other states that still have marriage bans in place: Alaska, Arizona and Montana. Lawsuits challenging bans in those states are still pending in lower courts and have not reached the 9th Circuit.
Ridiculous mess. We could give the same respect to heterosexual and homosexuals we give to men and women. Gender exclusivity (bathrooms, dorms, clubs, schools, organizations, etc.) in no way constitutes illegal discrimination. In the same way, sexual exclusivity in marriage in no way illegally discriminates against other sexualities. There are respectable differences between men and women and there are respectable differences between sexualities and the unions they form. Heterosexual unions (marriage) are very different from homosexual unions