Kansas is now issuing gender-neutral
marriage forms as an appeal continues over its ban on gay marriage.
According to the AP, the new forms
allow applicants to select bride, groom or spouse and the headings
“Bride” and “Groom” have been replaced with “Party A” and
“Party B.”
Copies of the forms were included as
part of a motion to dismiss Robert Moser, former secretary of the
Kansas Department of Health and Environment, from ongoing litigation.
Moser's resignation was effective November 30.
Kansas became the 33rd state
to allow gay couples to marry after the Supreme Court last month
refused to further delay implementation of a ruling striking down the
state's restrictive marriage ban.
However, Kansas has appealed the ruling
and only a handful of counties are issuing marriage licenses to gay
couples. The ACLU has also amended its complaint to include claims
that officials are refusing to recognize the marriages of same-sex
couples for the purposes of several critical state benefits,
including spousal health insurance.