Gay marriage is now legal in Nevada and Idaho after a federal appeals court struck down the standing bans. The decision followed the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear gay marriage appeals for five states, which legalized gay marriage for Virginia, Oklahoma, Utah, Wisconsin and Indiana on Monday (Oct. 6).
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday (Oct. 7) that gay marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho were a violation of equal protection rights reports the AP.
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."
Sue Latta, who sued the state of Idaho last year for recognition of their 2008 marriage in California celebrated the decision. "Taxes are easier, real estate is easier, parenting is easier, end-of-life planning is easier,” she said.
Publication date: October 8, 2014