U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby
strikes down Utah's (un)constitutional
same-sex marriage ban
(Be sure to check out the cartoon below)
The LGBTQ community in Utah received an early Christmas present on Friday, December 20, when U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby struck down the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. At 3 p.m., Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill called the ruling unambiguous and directed the county clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately. A crush of applicants had already begun to form. For the rest of the day, courthouses were busy marrying same-sex couples.
Cheers went up statewide among the LGBTQ community and its supporters. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker worked late to perform as many marriages as possible.
Needless to say, not everyone in Utah was filled with glee.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert issued this statement: “I am very disappointed an activist federal judge is attempting to override the will of the people of Utah. I am working with my legal counsel and the acting Attorney General to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah.”
And the Mormon Church issued this one: “We continue to believe that voters in Utah did the right thing by providing clear direction in the state constitution that marriage should be between a man and a woman and we are hopeful that this view will be validated by a higher court.”
Cheers went up statewide among the LGBTQ community and its supporters. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker worked late to perform as many marriages as possible.
Needless to say, not everyone in Utah was filled with glee.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert issued this statement: “I am very disappointed an activist federal judge is attempting to override the will of the people of Utah. I am working with my legal counsel and the acting Attorney General to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah.”
And the Mormon Church issued this one: “We continue to believe that voters in Utah did the right thing by providing clear direction in the state constitution that marriage should be between a man and a woman and we are hopeful that this view will be validated by a higher court.”
| In response to both, we urge you to click here or on the thumbnail image at right to see Pat Bagley’s new cartoon in The Salt Lake Tribune. Moreover, we cannot help but wonder: aren’t Mormon officials and Governor Herbert violating Utah’s anti-sodomy laws by walking around with a stick up their butt? |  Click image to view |
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