An Indiana lesbian couple who married
in Illinois have asked a federal judge to force Indiana to recognize
their marriage.
According to NWTimes.com, Veronica
Romero and Mayra Yvette Rivera of Whiting, Indiana married on March 7
in Illinois.
The lawsuit lists Lake County Clerk
Michael A. Brown, Indiana Health Commissioner Dr. William C. Vanness
and Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller as defendants.
Rivera, who is undergoing chemotherapy
treatments for ovarian cancer, entered hospice care in late July. In
the event of Rivera's death, the couple wants Indiana to issue a
death certificate listing Romero as her legal spouse.
“Through its marriage ban, the state
sends a purposeful message that the state views lesbian and gay men
and their children as second-class members of society who are
undeserving of the legal sanction, respect and support that
different-sex spouses and their families enjoy,” the lawsuit
states.
State officials this week asked the
U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeals court's ruling striking down
Indiana's ban. A federal appeals court has ordered the state to
recognize
the marriage of Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney, who is terminally
ill.
(Related: Wisconsin,
Indiana ask Supreme Court to overturn rulings axing gay marriage
bans.)
UPDATE: The
state has agreed to recognize the women's marriage.