Gay Couples Face More Obstacles as Gay Marriages Placed on Hold

San Francisco, CA (Aug 17) – It is another day, and another disappointment for those anxiously awaiting Wednesday mornings opening of the County Clerk’s office. A federal court has placed same-sex marriages permanently on hold.

The 9^th Circuit Court overruled a lower court’s decision allowing gay couples to wed in California beginning this Wednesday. The three-judge panel issued the ruling, this morning setting aside the lower court’s decision, which would have allowed gay couples to marry in the county.

The battle surrounding this decision hinges on Proposition 8 banning gay marriages in the state. Last week Judge Vaughn Walker ruled the Proposition 8 violated equal protection and due process rights of gays and lesbians guaranteed under the constitution.

Supporters for gay marriages still have one avenue of appeal regarding the 9^th circuit court’s decision that decision now lies in the hands of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Supporters of Proposition 8 argue the ban is necessary to safeguard the traditional understanding of marriage and encourage responsible childbearing.

To date, Massachusetts, Iowa, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Washington, D.C. are the only states in the union to legalize same sex marriage.

Posted by worldnews on August 16, 2010. Filed under Human Interest,National News,News,WorldNewsVine. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.