Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere to be recognized in Kentucky
Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere will be recognized in Kentucky at least for now, a federal judge ordered on Thursday.
U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II issued a final order throwing out part of the state’s ban on gay marriages. The order makes official his Feb. 12 ruling that Kentucky’s ban on same-sex marriages violated equal-protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution.
“Those laws ... are void and unenforceable,” the judge said in his order.
The ruling ordering Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere takes effect even though state officials had asked the judge to stay enforcement. Heyburn did not address the state’s motion.
Heyburn’s ruling allows same-sex couples to change their names on official identifications and documents and obtain any other benefits of a married couple in Kentucky.
The order doesn’t deal with a related lawsuit seeking to force the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
On Wednesday, a federal judge in Texas struck down that state’s gay marriage ban but immediately delayed the implementation of his ruling pending appeals by the state.
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