>> Arkansas judge rules gay marriage ban unconstitutional
Après le Texas, la Virginie, l’Oklahoma, l’Utah et le Michigan, c’est un juge de l’Arkansas qui fait tomber l’interdiction faite aux couples homosexuels de se marier :
« Il est temps de laisser le phare de la liberté briller sur tous nos frères et sœurs. Et nous continuerons d’œuvrer dans ce sens », a précisé le juge Chris Piazza dans sa décision, qui fait suite à une action en justice menée contre l’État par 11 couples homosexuels.
On pensait que les « célébrations » pourraient s’enchaîner dès le début de la semaine, mais finalement, ils ont déjà commencer. Des fois que le gouverneur qui soutient l’amendement de 2004, définissant le mariage dans l’état comme « l’union d’un homme et d’une femme », ne gèle trop vite l’autorisation par un renvoi en appel.
Vincent B. / Terrence K.
@stop_homophobie
>> A circuit court judge in Arkansas has struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage, declaring it unconstitutional. The ruling will almost certainly now be appealed by the state.
“It is time to let that beacon of freedom shine brighter on all our brothers and sisters. We will be stronger for it,” wrote Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza in his ruling.
Arkansas is only the latest red state to be faced with such a ruling. Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Utah have all recently had their gay marriage bans invalidated in a court of law, though all three of those decisions are now also facing appeals.
Less than one year since the Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented federal agencies from recognizing same-sex nuptials, 18 states have embraced marriage equality and six more are in the midst of legal challenges that aim to give gays and lesbians the same rights as heterosexual couples to marry.
Piazza’s decision is the product of a lawsuit against the Arkansas brought forth by 11 same-sex couples who reside in the state. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, a Democrat, was left to defend the 2004 ban in court. However, he told the press earlier this week that he supports marriage equality.
“I want to tell you I do support marriage equality and I do believe Arkansans should have the right to be equal in the eyes of the law,” he said.
