Brian Brown, president of the National
Organization for Marriage (NOM), has called on Alabama officials to
ignore a federal judge's ruling striking down the state's ban on gay
marriage.
On Monday, Alabama became the 37th
state, plus the District of Columbia, where gay and lesbian couples
can marry after the Supreme Court refused to delay implementation of
two court rulings.
(Related: Alabama:
37th
state where gay couples can marry.)
However, multiple probate judges are
siding with Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, who on Sunday
ordered them not to issue marriage licenses to gay couples, arguing
that federal district court rulings are not binding on state courts.
Brown targeted the Supreme Court,
calling its action “reckless,” and lauded Moore.
“A majority of the Supreme Court has
cast disrepute on the impartiality of the Court by refusing to follow
previous protocol and issue a stay of a lower court ruling while it
is being considered by the Court,” Brown said in a statement. “The
issues in play are currently under review by the Supreme Court, and
allowing a lower court ruling that overturns a state marriage
amendment adopted by over 80% of voters is reckless and undermines
the integrity of the Court.”
“We call on the people of Alabama to
continue to enforce their state marriage laws. A single federal
judge does not have the authority to overturn a state marriage
amendment and the people of Alabama should refuse to go along with
this order. We commend Alabama Supreme Court Justice Ray Moore for
ordering state probate judges, who are responsible for issuing
marriage licenses, to enforce state law limiting marriage to one man
and one woman and to refuse to issue licenses that violate state law.
These probate judges have sworn an oath to the people of Alabama and
they must honor their oath to the people they serve,” he added.