Breaking news! Oklahoma has joined the likes of Utah by ruling their statewide ban against same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Terence Kern ruled in favor of equality but unlike Utah, his ruling is stayed pending appeal, meaning there will be no storming of the county clerk offices to obtain marriage licenses in the Sooner State … yet.
We can thank Mary Bishop and Sharon Baldwin, Gay Phillips and Susan Barton for bringing the case for equality forward in the district courts back in 2004.
HRC President Chad Griffin issued the following statement:
“Judge Kern has come to the conclusion that so many have before him – that the fundamental equality of lesbian and gay couples is guaranteed by the United States Constitution. With last year’s historic victories at the Supreme Court guiding the way, it is clear that we are on a path to full and equal citizenship for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans. Equality is not just for the coasts anymore, and today’s news from Oklahoma shows that time has come for fairness and dignity to reach every American in all 50 states.”
This is definitely a case we'll be keeping our eye on!