Watch: Attorney General Eric Holder Explains Decision To Recognize Utah Marriages

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Attorney General Eric Holder is taking the unusual albeit welcome stance of recorded a video to explain his decision to recognize same-sex marriages performed in Utah. For 17 days, immediately after a federal judge ruled Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, 1360 couples tied the knot.

After Utah’s Republican Governor Gary Herbert won a stay on the ruling from the Supreme Court this week, these couples have been in legal limbo. Herbert has refused to allow Utah recognize the legal civil marriages of these couples, throwing them into great confusion.

Here’s Eric Holder’s full statement on his Utah decision, and video:

“Last June, the Supreme Court issued a landmark decision – inUnited States v. Windsor – holding that Americans in same-sex marriages are entitled to equal protection and equal treatment under the law.  This ruling marked a historic step toward equality for all American families.  And since the day it was handed down, the Department of Justice has been working tirelessly to implement it in both letter and spirit—moving to extend—federal benefits to married same-sex couples as swiftly and smoothly as possible.

Recently, an administrative step by the Court has cast doubt on same-sex marriages that have been performed in the state of Utah.  And the governor has announced that the state will not recognize these marriages pending additional Court action.

In the meantime, I am confirming today that, for purposes of federal law, these marriages will be recognized as lawful and considered eligible for all relevant federal benefits on the same terms as other same-sex marriages.  These families should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their status as the litigation unfolds. In the days ahead, we will continue to coordinate across the federal government to ensure the timely provision of every federal benefit to which Utah couples and couples throughout the country are entitled – regardless of whether they are in same-sex or opposite-sex marriages.  And we will continue to provide additional information as soon as it becomes available.”

//www.youtube.com/embed/vqNr4epjR-M