Kentucky Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban; Says Religious Views Do Not Trump Gay Rights

Christian Post ^ | 07/02/2014 | Stoyan Zaimov

[SeekAndFind]

Kentucky's same-sex marriage ban was struck down Tuesday by a federal judge who ruled that it is a violation of the equal protection clause of the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

"In America even sincere and long-held religious views do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted," U.S. District Judge John Heyburn in Louisville argued.

The ruling follows similar decisions in Utah and Indiana where gay marriage bans were also dismissed.

In his decision, Heyburn stated that his ruling does not "diminish the freedom of others to any degree." There is an "utter lack of logical relation" between excluding same-sex couples from marriage and any legitimate state interest, he added.

He also stated that "same-sex couples' right to marry seems to be a uniquely 'free' constitutional right," Reuters reported.

The case dealt with claims brought by two gay couples from Louisville who were denied marriage licenses. Court documents noted that Timothy Love and Lawrence Ysunza have lived together for 34 years, while the other couple, Maurice Blanchard and Dominique James, have been together for 10 years.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear announced in a statement after the decision that his office will be launching an appeal.

"Now that Judge Heyburn has issued his opinion on this portion of the case, we will be appealing the decision so that the matter is fully before the Sixth Circuit, where these same issues from other states are already scheduled

[highball]

I'm sorry, Judge; but, aren't "religious views" a 1st Amendment right. As in the "right to religious expression"?

Unfortunately, we lost the ability to that argument once the left found churches willing to marry gay people as part of their "religious expression". Now it's an argument against our position, not for it.