Virginia Judge Strikes Down Ban on Same-Sex Marriage

Ban violates the right to due process and equal protection of the law, court finds

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Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, federal judge Arenda Wright Allen ruled Thursday. She said that the state’s ban violates the right to due process and equal protection of the law.

The ruling follows similar cases in Oklahoma and Utah and adds Virginia to the growing number of states recognizing same-sex marriage. Since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in two landmark cases last year, a growing list of state and federal courts have granted such couples the right to marry.

The federal judge issued a stay of her order while it is appealed, which means that the ruling is on hold and that the case must be ultimately resolved before same-sex couples in Virginia can get hitched.

[Reuters]

Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, federal judge Arenda Wright Allen ruled Thursday. She said that the state’s ban violates the right to due process and equal protection of the law.

The ruling follows similar cases in Oklahoma and Utah and adds Virginia to the growing number of states recognizing same-sex marriage. Since the Supreme Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in two landmark cases last year, a growing list of state and federal courts have granted such couples the right to marry.

The federal judge issued a stay of her order while it is appealed, which means that the ruling is on hold and that the case must be ultimately resolved before same-sex couples in Virginia can get hitched.

[Reuters]