US: Indiana clerk begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses
An Indiana clerk has begun issuing same-sex marriage licenses, after the the Supreme Court declined to rule on a previous ruling striking down the state’s same-sex marriage ban.
Earlier today, the US Supreme Court today rejected seven pending appeals against same-sex marriage rulings across the US – which could allow same-sex weddings to begin in as many as 11 states.
A clerk in Marion County, Indiana – where same-sex marriage was legal for three days in June – has announced she will resume issuing marriage certificates immediately.
Clerk Beth White told WTHR: “I am delighted to once again welcome all loving Hoosier couples to the Clerk’s Office to obtain a marriage license.
“Limbo for these couples is over and they can expect nothing but dignity and respect from our marriage license staff when they arrive.
“We will not offer civil ceremonies as we did in June when same-sex marriage was briefly allowed in Indiana since the same state of urgency does not exist.
“When couples decide when their wedding day will be, they have 60 days to use their license.”
Indiana’s Attorney General Greg Zoeller said in a statement: “The denial of the five states’ cert petitions means a federal appeals court ruling invalidating Indiana’s marriage statute can take effect and a stay order that had blocked implementation of that ruling will be lifted soon, meaning county clerks will be required by federal court order to issue marriage licenses to otherwise eligible same-sex applicants.
“Once a mandate is issued by the 7th Circuit – which could happen later this week – county clerk’s offices will be required by federal court order to issue marriage licenses to otherwise eligible same-sex applicants.”
Same-sex weddings will also begin in Virginia today, while other states are expected to follow suit in the coming weeks.
