Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/same-sex-marriage-licenses-are-issued-in-utah-hours-after-ban-struck-down Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Same-sex marriage licenses are issued in Utah hours after ban struck down Nation Dec 20, 2013 5:49 PM EDT Hours after a federal judge’s Friday ruling that struck down Utah’s gay marriage ban, the Associated Press reports a county clerk’s office in Salt Lake County has begun to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Deputy Clerk Dahnelle Burton-Lee of Salt Lake County told the AP that the district attorney had authorized her office to issue the licenses. The law banning same-sex unions was passed by Utah voters in 2004. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby found that the law violated same-sex couples’ rights to equal protection under the 14th amendment. Shelby said that the state of Utah had failed to demonstrate how allowing gay marriage would affect opposite-sex marriages in any way. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now
Hours after a federal judge’s Friday ruling that struck down Utah’s gay marriage ban, the Associated Press reports a county clerk’s office in Salt Lake County has begun to issue same-sex marriage licenses. Deputy Clerk Dahnelle Burton-Lee of Salt Lake County told the AP that the district attorney had authorized her office to issue the licenses. The law banning same-sex unions was passed by Utah voters in 2004. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby found that the law violated same-sex couples’ rights to equal protection under the 14th amendment. Shelby said that the state of Utah had failed to demonstrate how allowing gay marriage would affect opposite-sex marriages in any way. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now