Gay and lesbian couples have started
exchanging vows in Indiana after a federal judge on Wednesday struck
down the state's ban on gay marriage.
“The court has never witnessed a
phenomenon throughout the federal court system as is presented with
this issue,” U.S. District Judge Richard Young said in his 36-page
ruling. “In less than a year, every federal district court to
consider the issue has reached the same conclusion in thoughtful and
thorough opinions – laws prohibiting the celebration and
recognition of same-sex marriages are unconstitutional. It is clear
that the fundamental right to marry shall not be deprived to some
individuals based solely on the person they choose to love. In time,
Americans will look at the marriage of couples such as Plaintiffs,
and refer to it simply as a marriage – not a same-sex marriage.”
Young ordered the state to begin
issuing marriage licenses to gay couples and did not issue a stay.
“Chief Judge Richard Young's decision
on marriage equality sets forth a clear course of action for this
office to follow regarding same-sex marriage licenses,” Marion
County Clerk Beth White said in a statement. “It is my
responsibility to uphold court rulings that impact this office and
that is what I will do.”
According to The Indianapolis Star,
Craig Bowen and Jake Miller (pictured above; photo credit Michelle
Pemberton/The Star) were the first to receive a marriage
license and be married in Indianapolis.
A spokesman for Attorney General Greg
Zoeller said Zoeller's office “will quickly ask for a stay of
today's ruling pending appeal.”
The ruling was handed down on the same
day that an appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling striking down
Utah's ban and one day before the one-year anniversary of the Supreme
Court's ruling striking down a key provision of the Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA).
(Related: Appeals
court rules Utah's gay marriage ban unconstitutional.)