A federal district court judge on
Thursday ruled against plaintiffs challenging Nevada's ban on gay
marriage.
U.S. District Chief Judge Robert Jones
ruled that the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection does
not prohibit “the People of the State of Nevada from maintaining
statutes that reserve the institution of civil marriage to
one-man—one-woman relationships.”
In reaching his conclusion, Jones
rejected arguments that gay men and lesbians have historically faced
discrimination.
“Homosexuals have not historically
been denied the right to vote, the right to serve on juries, or the
right to own property,” Jones
wrote.
The lead plaintiffs in the case are two
women in their 70s who have raised 3 children and have 4
grandchildren. Beverly Sevcik and Mary Baranovich have been together
more than four decades. They and seven other gay couples who wish to
marry in Nevada are represented by the legal group Lambda Legal.
In 2002, Nevada voters overwhelmingly
approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a
heterosexual union. Nevada in 2009 began recognizing gay and lesbian
couples with domestic partnerships, which offer far fewer benefits
than marriage.
Lambda Legal is expected to appeal the
decision.