Idaho Same Sex Marriage Ban Lifted

The news broke right before 6pm on Tuesday night.  Idaho's same sex marriage ban had officially been overturned.  I immediately went to msnbc.com to see if there was any buzz.  The lead story read,

"Another Red State Goes Rainbow".

Same sex couples could be lined up as early as 9am on Friday morning to say, "I Do".  Governor Otter made a statement shortly after the federal ruling,

“In 2006, the people of Idaho exercised their fundamental right, reaffirming that marriage is the union of a man and a woman,” Otter said in a statement. “Today’s decision, while disappointing, is a small setback in a long-term battle that will end at the U.S. Supreme Court. I am firmly committed to upholding the will of the people and defending our Constitution.”

Federal Judge Candy Judge handed down the decision her ruling saying:

"Idaho's Marriage Laws deny same-sex couples the economic, practical, emotional and spiritual benefits of marriage, relegating each couple to a stigmatized, second-class status.  Plaintiffs suffer these injuries not because they are unqualified to marry, start a family or grow old together, but because of who they are and whom they love."

Dale added that the state of Idaho could not prove that same-sex marriage would negatively impact opposite-sex marriage or the well being of children.  With her decision same-sex marriage licenses would be granted beginning at 9 AM this Friday, but that could change if Judge Dale moves forward with Governor Otter's request to issue a stay on her decision until it's appealed to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.  According to KTVB's interview with the Director of the Andrus Center for Public Policy, Dr. David Adler, that is NOT likely to move forward.

It's ironic that the courthouse, which was a focal point around several protests and arrests surrounding "Add The Words," a campaign that focused on amending  the existing Idaho Human Rights Act, calling for equal rights despite sexual orientation and gender identity, will now act as host of so many sacred unions for those same individuals.