Breaking: Colorado Same-Sex Couples Begin Marrying – State Becomes First Of Six States

The State of Colorado is bucking the trend and conforming to the effect of yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court announcement on same-sex marriage.

Colorado Republican Attorney General John Suthers in July had asked a federal court to strike down his state’s ban on same-sex marriage, even though he’s opposed to extending the institution to same-sex couples. Why? He wanted to arrest a county clerk he believed was breaking the law. The other part of his request was for the same court to stay their ruling, thereby making the law clear, and allowing him to arrest her.

But now, Suthers has become the first attorney general to implement the results of yesterday’s Supreme Court announcement on same-sex marriage. In doing so, Colorado has become the first of the six states indirectly affected by the nation’s highest court’s announcement. 

“Beginning today, Colorado’s 64 county clerks are legally required to issue licenses to same-sex couples who request them,” AG Suthers said in a statement, according to Buzzfeed. “In addition, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is required to register such marriages in the records of the State of Colorado.”

LOOK: The Same-Sex Marriage Map Just Changed Dramatically – Here’s What It Looks Like

Colorado is part of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had previously struck down marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma. Those rulings went into effect yesterday. 

But as The New Civil Rights Movement reported earlier today, governors and attorneys general from the five others states in the 10th and 4th Circuit, who are required to implement the effect of the Supreme Court’s actions, are refusing to do so.

Same-sex couples will still be waiting in now five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, Kansas and Wyoming.

 

Image: Twitter