Couples Challenging Alaska Gay Marriage Ban

Alaska will be the next state to join in the gay marriage controversy, as five homosexual couples have filed a lawsuit which condemns the current ban as unconstitutional.

Currently Alaska does not permit gay couples to marry in the state, nor do couples who marry outside state lines receive legal recognition of the union reports the AP.

“A couple who marries in Seattle and returns home to Alaska are married in the eyes of the law when their plane lifts off from SeaTac (airport) but are legal strangers when the flight touches down in Alaska. No Alaskan is a second-class citizen,” said Heather Gardner, attorney to the couples.

One of the gay couples is Matthew Hamby and Christopher Shelden, who married in Canada in 2008. Hamby said, “...marriage should be available to all loving couples. It’s important to us that our family is recognized by the State of Alaska and that we have the same rights and privileges as others.”

Defendants in the case are Governor Sean Parnell and Attorney General Michael Geraghty. Geraghty said that when the court makes its ruling, “obviously we will comply with the decision.”

Publication date: May 13, 2014