A federal judge has refused to allow the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church to intervene in a case challenging Kansas' ban on gay marriage.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree disagreed with the church's assertion that its religious-based interests were not being represented in the case by the state.

“[T]he differences in interests that WBC identifies only amount to differences in arguments that WBC would like to assert,” Crabtree said in his ruling. “This is an insufficient basis to conclude WBC's interest are not adequately represented by the existing defendants.”

Westboro, known for coining the phrase “God hates fags” and picketing the funerals of fallen soldiers, argued that it should be allowed to defend the ban in court because it has a “vital interest in what the courts rule regarding this issue, as it directly impacts their religious practices, beliefs, preachments, picketing, association and speech, as well as the wellbeing of their fellow man.”

Westboro officials also said that allowing gay couples to marry would “destroy Kansas.”

“If this Court requires Kansas officials to treat what God has called abominable as something to be respected, revered, and blessed with the seal-of-approval of the government, that will cross a final line with God,” the document states. “The harm that will befall this state, when the condign destructive wrath of God pours out on Kansans is the ultimate harm to the health, welfare and safety of the people.”

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit are two lesbian couples who wish to marry in Kansas but were denied marriage licenses. Crabtree put his ruling on hold until Tuesday at 5 PM. The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which struck down similar bans in Oklahoma and Utah, refused to stay Crabtree's ruling as the state pursues an appeal. Kansas officials said Friday that they would ask the Supreme Court to intervene before the ruling takes effect.

(Related: Kansas to ask Supreme Court to stay gay marriage ruling.)

Crabtree dismissed a similar request to intervene in the case by a straight couple who claimed that allowing gay couples to marry would be tantamount to seizing their marriage property.

(Brief provided by Equality Case Files.)