Marriage equality update

Here is a short summary of marriage equality efforts across the country.

Virginia

Legalizinggay marriagein Virginia could create hundreds of jobs and generate up to $60 million in spending over three years assame-sexcouples spend thousands on their nuptials and out-of-town guests come to celebrate with them, according to a study by a UCLA think tank.

In February, a federal judge in Norfolk struck down Virginia's ban onsame-sex marriages. The decision has been stayed while it is appealed, and a three-judge panel of the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in Richmond on May 13. Lawyers for both sides expect the issue to ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, either in the Virginia case or one like it from another state.

North Carolina

North Carolina's attorney general is asking a judge to delay the most recent lawsuit over the state'ssame-sex marriageban, saying an order expected later this year in another case likely will resolve the situation. Attorney General Roy Cooper says the new case should be delayed because a hearing is scheduled in May before the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether Virginia'smarriageban is unconstitutional. Legal experts say the ruling likely will apply to other states in the 4th Circuit, including North Carolina.

Illinois

Cook County has issued its 1,000thmarriagelicense to asame-sex couple. A state law legalizingsame-sex marriagetakes effect June 1. But a federal judge in Chicago ruled Feb. 21 that Illinois' original ban was unconstitutional. That means there's nothing to stop couples from marrying now.

Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A federal judge has said that attorneys defending Indiana's gay marriageban haven't given a valid reason why the state should not recognize the out-of-statemarriageof alesbiancouple, one of whom has a terminal illness.

U.S. District Judge Richard Young's written order, issued Friday, outlined the rationale behind his decision earlier this month to grant Niki Quasney and Amy Sandler a temporary restraining order that bars the state from enforcing itsgay marriageban against their union. The federal order applied only to Quasney and Sandler, even though they were part of a larger lawsuit involving severalgaycouples. Indiana does not recognizesame-sex marriagesperformed inside or outside of the state.

He also said his decision was due in part to a wave of similar rulings in other states, including two that dealt with terminally ill partners.

Oregon

Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has declined to defend the state constitutional ban. She says in court filings that there's no reason the state should treatsame-sex couples differently from opposite-sex couples when it comes tomarriage.

The National Organization forMarriage, an anti-gay organization,said Monday that it plans to file a motion to intervene A federal judge is scheduled to hear arguments over Oregon's voter-approvedsame-sex marriageban on Wednesday.

Ohio

The Ohio Ballot Board agreed Tuesday that the proposed "Freedom to Marry and Religious Freedom Amendment" contains a single constitutional amendment, clearing the way for the effort to move forward. Supporters can now gather signatures to get the measure on the ballot.

The updated amendment includes language requiring that all legally validmarriagesbe treated equally under the law. It also keeps clergy from being forced to perform a same-sex marriage. The amendment is not related to a federal judge's recent decision ordering Ohio authorities to recognize themarriagesofgaycouples performed in other states.

Georgia

Gayrights group Lambda legal filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in Atlanta challenging the state of Georgia's constitutional ban onsame-sexmarriages.

Georgia voters in 2004 overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment banninggaymarriage in the state and the recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, in 2004. The ban was challenged in state courts bygayrights groups who challenged the wording of the ballot question, but the state Supreme Court ultimately ruled the vote was valid in 2006.

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The Gayly – April 22, 2014 @ 12pmMarriage equality update