Arizona and Alaska have won the fight to allow gay marriages in their respective states as the court orders extended a line of legal victories for advocates. Couple of the same sex are now allowed to wed in 31 states and the District of Columbia.
Yesterday in Phoenix, a federal judge declared Arizona's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional. Officials had revealed that they will begin issuing licenses as soon as possible. Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, has also invited gay couples to apply for licenses.
Michael Jeanes who is a court clerk posted on Twitter "Your marriage license awaits and we are ready to serve you!"
Excited couples had lined up yesterday as early as 10:30 a.m. when the Maricopa County clerk began issuing licenses.
A few hours later, the U.S. Supreme Court had turned down a last bid by Alaska officials to halt weddings from starting there. The high court did not release any comment and issued a one-sentence order.
A federal judge in Wyoming had also ordered that state to allow same-sex marriage. However, he put the preliminary ruling at bay to allow the state a chance to appeal.
Alaska was among several states that have tried to resist same-sex marriage even in the face of court rulings declaring it to be a constitutional right. Just this week, a federal trial judge legalized gay marriage in Alaska. Following the announcement, the state sought to stop that ruling while it appealed.
According to Marc Solomon who is a national campaign director for the advocacy group Freedom to Marry, the Arizona judge's ruling "affirms what nearly every court in the past year has held," that gay couples have a constitutional right to wed. He added that, "It is time for the courts to finish the job and end marriage discrimination throughout the land,"
