Tennessee's Attorney General will appeal a ruling issued last week ordering the state to recognize the marriages of three gay couples while a court challenge proceeds, the Tennesseean reports:
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger issued a preliminary injunction allowing the marriage of three same-sex couples — plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit — to be recognized as their lawsuit against Gov. Bill Haslam and other state officials progressed.
In its argument, the AG's office points to a stay issued in a similar same-sex marriage ruling in Utah, plus says it won't irreparably harm the couples not to be recognized. The plaintiffs' attorneys particularly pointed to the plaintiffs Valeria Tanco and Sophy Jesty, who are expecting a child next week and fear the anti-recognition law could be used to deny Jesty access to her wife and child.
The couple should have used legal documents such as powers of attorney and "advanced (sic) directives" to protect themselves, the appeal says.
It also claims the state of Tennessee will be harmed by the ruling because it alters the status quo.
Read more about the case here.
