Federal judge: Florida gay-marriage ban unconstitutional

[thelakelander]

BY STEVE ROTHAUS
SROTHAUS@MIAMIHERALD.COM
A federal judge on Thursday ruled Florida's gay-marriage ban unconstitutional and ordered the state to recognize marriages legally performed elsewhere. U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle, however, immediately stayed his order until after the appeals process is completed.

"When observers look back 50 years from now, the arguments supporting Florida's ban on same-sex marriage, though just as sincerely held, will again seem an obvious pretext for discrimination," Hinkle wrote. "Observers who are not now of age will wonder just how those views could have been held."

Hinkle's ruling comes after 22 individuals including nine married couples sued Florida to recognize their marriages or grant them marriage licenses. Plaintiffs in the case include eight same-sex couples from South Florida and and LGBT-rights group SAVE.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/08/21/4301754/federal-judge-florida-gay-marriage.html#storylink=cpy

[Tacachale]

We shall overcome!