LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A federal judge in Kentucky struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage on Tuesday, though the ruling was temporarily put on hold and it was not immediately clear when same-sex couples could be issued marriage licenses.
U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn in Louisville concluded that the state’s prohibition on same-sex couples being wed violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by treating gay couples differently than straight couples.
The ruling was the latest in a string of victories for gay marriage advocates across the nation and marked the most recent conservative state to have its ban overturned.
Heyburn previously struck down Kentucky’s ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states and countries, but he put the implementation of that ruling on hold. That decision did not deal with whether Kentucky would have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Instead, Tuesday’s ruling dealt directly with that question.
“Sometimes, by upholding equal rights for a few, courts necessarily must require others to forebear some prior conduct or restrain some personal instinct,” Heyburn wrote. “Here, that would not seem to be the case. Assuring equal protection for same-sex couples does not diminish the freedom of others to any degree.”
Heyburn noted that every federal court to consider a same-sex marriage ban has found it unconstitutional.
Gay rights activists have won 18 cases in federal and state courts since the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2013 overturned a key portion of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, allowing married same-sex couples to receive the same federal benefits as heterosexual couples. Only Judge Paul J. Kelly Jr. of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver has argued for keeping a state ban on same-sex marriages.
A total of 13 gay marriage cases are pending in state and federal appeals courts. Those rulings all are on hold pending appellate court decisions.
The U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments on rulings from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee in a single session, on Aug. 6. Although the cases are unique, each deals with whether statewide gay marriage bans violate the Constitution. The Michigan case also dealt with a ban on state-issued marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said the state will appeal Heyburn’s decision, though it’s not clear if the appeal will be heard alongside the others before the 6th Circuit.
The lead plaintiff, Timothy Love, 55, of Louisville, Kentucky, said he was “ecstatic” about the decision and hopes to be able to marry his partner of 34 years, Larry Ysunza, once all the appeals are complete.
“We wanted to see the entire ban struck down,” Love said. “Now, the headline is ‘Love Wins.”’
Dan Canon, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, said he was excited about the ruling because the day will arrive soon when same-sex couples can get a marriage license in Kentucky.
