Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi on
Monday appeared to concede defeat as gay couples began exchanging
vows in Miami-Dade County.
Bondi, a Republican, vigorously
defended the state's ban on gay marriage, even asking the Supreme
Court to delay implementation of a federal judge's ruling declaring
the ban unconstitutional. The court refused and the judge's ruling
took effect on Tuesday.
But in Miami-Dade County, wedding bells
began ringing for gay couples a day earlier than expected as a state
judge lifted a stay in her July ruling striking down the ban.
(Related: Miami-Dade
begins issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.)
“The judge has ruled, and we wish
these couples the best,” Bondi spokesman Whitney Ray said in a
statement.
Ray said that there has been no
decision yet on whether the state will continue with an appeal in the
case.