Marriage equality from the states: Georgia, Alabama

By John Mack Freeman

The Supreme Court has decided that they’ll hear marriage equality cases this spring, and it has people across the country thinking that this issue may well be settled once and for all. But that hasn’t stopped movement in the states. Here’s some of what has gone on this week:

In the light of the SCOTUS case, several states including Georgia have had defendants request their court cases be put on hold pending the SCOTUS review. Needless to say, equality advocates are not impressed or supportive of these stalling tactics.

Alabama has become the newest state to welcome marriage equality. Via The Washington Blade:

In a 10-page decision on Friday, U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade, an appointee of George W. Bush, issued summary judgement in favor of a plaintiff same-sex couple, finding Alabama marriage laws violate the couple’s right to due process and equal protection under the U.S. Constitution. “There has been no evidence presented that these marriage laws have any effect on the choices of couples to have or raise children, whether they are same-sex couples or opposite-sex couples,” Granade writes. “In sum, the laws in question are an irrational way of promoting biological relationships in Alabama.”

The ruling in Alabama was not stayed pending appeal, so marriages could begin there in the coming days. As in Florida, the association of the state’s probate judges has requested clarification from the judge as to whether her ruling applied just to this case or to the entire states.

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