The Equality Network statement on Tenth Circuit decision
10th Circuit Court of Appeals grants the freedom to marry in Utah
Separate Oklahoma decision expected soon
Oklahoma City – Today the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the December ruling in favor of the freedom to marry in Utah. It is the first ruling by a federal appellate court since last year's victory in the Supreme Court and, unless reversed, will pave the way for the freedom to marry throughout the 10th Circuit, including in Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming, and Kansas.
Bishop v. Smith, the Oklahoma case currently before the same panel of judges - at the 10th Circuit – is expected to be decided any day now.
Troy Stevenson, spokesperson for Freedom Oklahoma, and the Executive Director of The Equality Network (TEN), a statewide LGBT policy organization in Oklahoma, issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision affirms the fundamental principles of equality and fairness for gay and lesbian couples and their families. The 10th Circuit is the highest court thus far to rule on the freedom to marry, and its decision affirms what we have long known – the question is no longer ‘if’ marriage will be afforded to all, but ‘when.’ And we firmly believe that the answer is sooner rather than later.”
Background:
Currently, 44% of Americans live in states where gay couples share in the freedom to marry: 19 states and the District of Columbia. Recent polling by the Washington Post/ABC News shows 59% of Americans support marriage, including a majority of young evangelicals and Republicans under 45 in other polls.
Oregon and Pennsylvania became the most recent states to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after courts found the ban on the freedom to marry unconstitutional. In total, 22 rulings in recent months have found that state bans on marriage for same-sex couples are unconstitutional.
TEN's statement of values says: We believe that the LGBT equality movement in Oklahoma is inextricably linked to a broader movement for social justice and social change and that we cannot achieve a just society by working for LGBT equality in isolation from other forms of oppression.
We are therefore committed to working with allies and allied communities in ending oppression based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, class, and familial status, as well as sexual orientation, sex and gender — including gender identity and gender expression. And we are committed to eliminate those forms of oppression as they operate within the LGBT community and LGBT organizations as well as within society as a whole.
Editor’ s Note: Indiana’s ban on same-sex marriage was ruled unconstitutional today, and marriages began immediately.
The Gayly – June 25, 2014 @ 6:10pm