A state judge on Wednesday granted
Florida's fist divorce of a gay couple.
Circuit Judge Dale Cohen dissolved the
Vermont civil union of Heather Brassner and Megan Lade.
The women exchanged vows in 2002.
According to Brassner, the relationship soured four years ago after
Lade cheated on her and soon after disappeared.
A divorce in Vermont is not possible
because the state wants Lade to sign off on the split.
“It's like an emotional weight being
lifted off,” Brassner
said. “I just feel free and I couldn't have gotten a better
holiday gift.”
To grant the divorce, Cohen declared
Florida's 2008 voter-approved gay marriage ban invalid.
“Florida's prohibition on same-sex
marriage denies some citizens, based on their sexual orientation, the
fundamental right to marry, and does so without a legitimate state
purpose,” Cohen
wrote in a ruling handed down last week. “This Court finds
these laws are unconstitutional and GRANTS the Petitioner's Motion
For Declaratory Relief, declaring Florida's ban on same-sex marriage
unconstitutional.”
Brassner's attorney Nancy Brodzki said
she expects Cohen's ruling will be appealed.
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on
Monday asked
the Supreme Court to delay the implementation of a federal
judge's ruling ordering state officials to begin issuing marriage
licenses to gay couples after January 5. Justice Clarence Thomas
asked for all briefs on the request to be filed by late Thursday.