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Thousands of same-sex marriage supporters — gay and straight — including some of the 1360 same-sex couples who recently married, flooded the capitol in Salt Lake City, Utah today, demanding Governor Gary Herbert “let it stand.” Protestors want the Republican governor and his attorney general to give up their fight against a federal judge’s ruling last month that found Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Herbert is appealing the decision in federal court.
Supporters delivered to the Governor’s office a reported 58,000 petitions asking him to not waste the $2 million he promised to spend on outside counsel to fight Judge Shelby’s December 20 ruling.
Since that date, 1360 same-sex couples have married, but now those marriages are in limbo, and there can be no more until a federal circuit court of appeals rules on the case.
WATCH: Attorney General Eric Holder Explains Decision To Recognize Utah Marriages
Gov. Herbert’s attorney general was able to convince the U.S. Supreme Court to stay Judge Shelby’s ruling. Herbert yesterday announced the state of Utah would not recognize what are legal civil marriages.
Today, the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, announced the federal government will recognize those unions, even if the state will not.
Some images from today’s rally:
//storify.com/davidbadash/utah-thousands-protest-to-save-same-sex-marriage/embed
[View the story “Utah: Thousands Protest To Save Same-Sex Marriage” on Storify]
Image, top, by Rich Rushton via Instagram
Previously:
The ACLU Strikes Back – Will Sue To Preserve Utah’s Same-Sex Marriages
Breaking: Utah Gov. Tells 1360 Legally Married Same-Sex Couples Their Unions Are Invalid
Republicans Gather In Utah To Encourage An ‘Uprising’ Against Gay Marriage
Human Rights Campaign Asks Marriage Equality States To Recognize Utah Marriages
Meet Utah’s ‘Anti-Marxist Secessionist’ Who’s Been Fasting For Weeks To End Gay Marriage