Breaking: Puerto Rico Drops Defense Of Anti-Gay Marriage Ban

The Governor and Secretary of Justice of Puerto Rico have just announced they will no longer defend the territory’s ban on same-sex marriage in court. 

Acknowledging that Puerto Rico has “denied rights that others enjoy,” Secretary of Justice César Miranda told reporters in San Juan this afternoon, “This is not correct.” 

The Democratic Governor of Puerto Rico, Alejandro García Padilla, and the Secretary Miranda announced they will no longer defend the Commonwealth’s ban on same-sex marriage, months after U.S. District Court Judge Juan Perez-Gimenez dismissed a case that sought to overturn the ban.

The Commonwealth is notifying the First Circuit Court of Appeals of its decision, and requesting the legislature to amend Article 68 of the Puerto Rico Civil Code, which states that “marriage is between a man and a woman that mutually agree to become husband and wife,” and that “no recognition will be given to marriages between persons of the same sex contracted in other jurisdictions.”

Chris Geidner at Buzzfeed notes that the government of Puerto Rico “asked the 1st Circuit to hold off oral arguments in the case until the U.S. Supreme Court resolves the marriage ban cases currently pending before it,” meaning that no marriages are likely to take place before a Supreme Court ruling.

“We commend the Puerto Rican government for their journey on marriage,” Freedom To Marry’s President Evan Wolfson said in a statement this afternoon. “The announcement today follows a long list of elected officials, including conservatives and Latino U.S. representatives such as Linda Sanchez, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, and Joaquin Castro, who believe that there is no legitimate reason for marriage discrimination against same-sex couples, and no place for it in law. A majority of Latinos support marriage, a majority of states have the freedom to marry for same-sex couples, and loving and committed same-sex couples in Puerto Rico should not be left out. As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear marriage cases next month, this makes clear that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry.”

 

This article has been updated to include the information from Buzzfeed.

Hat tip: Michael K. Lavers at the Washington Blade