Indiana Gov. Mike Pence's office has
announced that Indiana will not recognize the marriages of gay and
lesbian couples performed last month in the state.
On June 25, U.S. District Judge Richard
Young struck down Indiana's marriage ban, which led to a rush of gay
couples to marry at county clerks offices. The weddings came to a halt
on June 27, when an appeals court stayed Young's ruling pending an
appeal.
Mark G. Ahearn, chief counsel, outlined
the administration's position in a memo dated July 7 to all executive
branches.
“To ensure that the state respects
the rule of law, executive branch agencies are instructed to comply
with the 7th Circuit Order issued on June 27, 2014, which
stays the U.S. District Court Order issued on June 25, 2014,” the
memo reads. “Accordingly, Indiana's [marriage ban] is in full
force and effect and executive branch agencies are to execute their
functions as though the U.S. District Court Order of June 25, 2014
had not been issued.”
John Zody, the chair of Indiana's
Democratic Party, criticized the move.
“Governor Pence is embarrassing our
state by ignoring these families, creating an unwelcome environment
for those who want to call Indiana home,” he
said in a statement. “No Hoosier should be treated as a
second-class citizen.”
Ahearn added that the state will
recognize the marriage of a terminally ill lesbian, as ordered by the
7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.
(Related: Appeals
court orders Indiana to recognize marriage of terminally ill
lesbian.)