A judge decided that Arkansas' ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, opening the door for the state's very first same-sex marriage license to be issued yesterday.
Noting that same-sex couples are a "morally disliked minority" and that the ban was "driven by animus rather than a rational basis," Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza ruled against it. The state adopted the constitutional amendment in 2004, and though Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel said he personally isn't in favor of it, he'll still pursue a stay on the amendment.
No appeal had been filed as of yesterday morning, so couples went forward with marriage proceedings. Kristin Seaton, 27, and Jennifer Rambo, 26, were awarded the first marriage license, becoming Arkansas' very first same-sex couple to wed:
This puts Arkansas in the same category as Virginia, Michigan, Utah, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia as states who reversed their bans on gay marriage.
[via Daily Intelligencer]
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