[Updated again: Now with Alabama and Virginia!] Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, and Texas all had positive news about marriage equality yesterday. Let’s round it all up. (I know: Nevada isn’t really part of the south, but it’s south of where I am, so grant me some poetic license here.)
- The Southern Poverty Law Center filed a federal lawsuit today asking that Alabama recognize the marriage of a gay man whose spouse (whom he legally wed in Massachusetts) died in a car crash, and who is seeking the settlement money from the wrongful death lawsuit that followed.
- A federal district court judge ruled that Kentucky must recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed legally in other jurisdictions. Same-sex couples still can’t marry in Kentucky, but it certainly seems things are headed in that direction.
- Four same-sex couples in Louisiana who married elsewhere have sued for their marriages to be recognized in their home state. ABC News reports that one of their arguments is that because they are considered single in their state but married by the federal government, they cannot uphold the state law that requires them “to use the same status on state tax returns that they use on federal returns.” I kind of love how they point out the lack of logic there.
- Eight same-sex couples and the ACLU of Missouri filed a similar lawsuit in Missouri, seeking recognition of their out-of-state marriages. (This happens just three days after University of Missouri football star Michael Sam came out as gay. I don’t know of any actual connection between the events, but the timing is uncanny.)
- The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals granted Lambda Legal’s request to expedite the hearing of its lawsuit challenging Nevada’s discriminatory marriage ban. It also granted Governor Brian Sandoval’s request to withdraw his brief defending the ban — basically, Sandoval is no longer saying same-sex couples shouldn’t marry.
- A federal district court judge in Texas heard arguments but issued no decision in a request to issue a preliminary injunction and allow same-sex couples to marry. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the judge would take the case “under advisement,” but gave no timetable for a ruling.
- Finally, in news breaking this evening, a federal judge ruled Virginia’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples unconstitutional. He issued a stay on the decision pending appeal (so same-sex couples can’t marry there yet).
Let’s not forget, too, that several couples filed a case in January seeking marriage equality in Florida, and at least one register of deeds in North Carolina has begun accepting applications from same-sex couples for marriage licenses. I don’t think it’s going to be easy gaining marriage in any of the above states, but I’m impressed we’re even at a point where we can try.