Okla. lawmakers weigh in on same-sex ruling

Tulsa, Okla. (AP) — Members of Oklahoma's congressional delegation are decrying a ruling striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

In his ruling Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Terence Kern described Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage as "an arbitrary, irrational exclusion of just one class of Oklahoma citizens from a governmental benefit."

But some members of the state's congressional delegation blasted the ruling as overreaching and disappointing.

U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican, said Oklahoma's constitution "protects the sovereignty of states, and with today's ruling, that right has clearly been violated."

U.S. Rep. James Lankford, another Republican, said Kern's ruling is an example of "why the American people are so frustrated with government and government officials; the people speak clearly but elected officials and judges ignore them."

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The Gayly – January 15, 2014 @ 2:05pm