Less Than Half Of Alabama Counties Are Issuing Marriage Licenses To Same-Sex Couples

A growing number, but still well less than half of Alabama’s 67 counties are following the law and issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

On Monday, a stay on a federal court ruling striking down Alabama’s ban on same-sex marriage expired. At that moment, probate judges in all 67 counties in the Heart of Dixie should have opened their doors to same-sex couples and begin issuing them marriage licenses. Instead, some closed their doors to all couples, not just same-sex couples, some outright refused to issue licenses to same-sex couples, and a very few, eleven, to be exact, complied with the law. 

Three days in, as of this writing, there are 24 counties in which same-sex couples can legally marry, according to a list by Freedom To Marry and Equality Alabama. That number does not include judges who have chosen to accept applications but not issue licenses, which is still a violation of Judge Granade’s orders.

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While slightly double Monday’s number, it still reveals the level of challenge Alabama’s LGBT community faces, and the degree of animus many across the state face.

In fact, a poll published this week by the Public Religion Research Institute finds Alabama’s support for same-sex marriage is the lowest in the nation.

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