• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

Federal Judge Strikes Down Kentucky’s Ban On Same-Sex Marriage

July 1, 2014 by Sean Mandell

6a00d8341c730253ef01a73d7ae153970d-800wi-2

Federal Judge John G. Heyburn II ruled today that Kentucky’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, stating that gays are a "disadvantaged class” deserving protections similar to those received by women in equal protections cases. The Courrier-Journal reports:

6a00d8341c730253ef01a73d84b8b2970d-300wi"In America, even sincere and long-hold religious beliefs do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted," [Heyburn wrote]…

Heyburn rejected the only justification offered by lawyers for Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear — that traditional marriages contribute to a stable birth rate and the state's long-term economic stability. 

"These arguments are not those of serious people," he said.

Heyburn held that the ban on gay marriage within Kentucky violates the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the law and that there is "no conceivable legitimate purpose for it."

He held that the state's 2004 constitutional amendment and a similar statute enacted in 1998 deny gay couples lower income and estate taxes; leave from work under the Family and Medical Leave Act, family insurance coverage; and the ability to adopt children as a couple. 

"Perhaps most importantly," he added, the Kentucky law denies same-sex couples the "intangible and and emotional benefits of civil marriage."

The case in question was brought before Heyburn by two couples, Timothy Love and Lawrence Ysunza, who have been together for thirty-three years, and Maurice Blanchard and Dominique James, who have been together for ten, after Heyburn ruled in a previous decision that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state. As in his previous ruling, Heyburn put a hold on his latest decision, preventing same-sex couples from being able to wed immediately. Heyburn wants the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals to decide on the challenge to Kentucky’s marriage ben it is set to hear in August before his ruling would go into effect. 

Filed Under: Kentucky, News Tagged With: gay marriage, Gay Marriage, gay rights, Gay Rights, Kentucky, News

Recent Posts

  • Justin Timberlake, ‘The Apprentice’, John Foley, Cher, Jeremy Bulloch, Chaz Bono, Eric Garcetti, Denver Riggleman: HOT LINKS

    Justin Timberlake, ‘The Apprentice’, John Foley, Cher, Jeremy Bulloch, Chaz Bono, Eric Garcetti, Denver Riggleman: HOT LINKS

    7 hours ago
  • 11 Drag Queens Take On Meryl Streep’s Iconic Roles in Performance of The Prom’s ‘It’s Not About Me’ — WATCH

    11 Drag Queens Take On Meryl Streep’s Iconic Roles in Performance of The Prom’s ‘It’s Not About Me’ — WATCH

    10 hours ago
  • Acting Defense Sec’y Chris Miller Orders Pentagon to Stop Cooperating with Biden Transition Team

    Acting Defense Sec’y Chris Miller Orders Pentagon to Stop Cooperating with Biden Transition Team

    11 hours ago
  • HRC Calls on Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Apologize for Ridiculing Gender Pronouns in Series of Tweets

    HRC Calls on Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Apologize for Ridiculing Gender Pronouns in Series of Tweets

    11 hours ago
Previous Post: « Mormon LGBT Rights Advocate John Dehlin Faces Excommunication: VIDEO
Next Post: ‘Pride’ Tells The True Story Of LGBT Support For Striking Miners In 1980s Wales – VIDEO »

Primary Sidebar

  • Justin Timberlake, ‘The Apprentice’, John Foley, Cher, Jeremy Bulloch, Chaz Bono, Eric Garcetti, Denver Riggleman: HOT LINKS

  • 11 Drag Queens Take On Meryl Streep’s Iconic Roles in Performance of The Prom’s ‘It’s Not About Me’ — WATCH

  • Acting Defense Sec’y Chris Miller Orders Pentagon to Stop Cooperating with Biden Transition Team

Recent Posts

  • Justin Timberlake, ‘The Apprentice’, John Foley, Cher, Jeremy Bulloch, Chaz Bono, Eric Garcetti, Denver Riggleman: HOT LINKS

    Justin Timberlake, ‘The Apprentice’, John Foley, Cher, Jeremy Bulloch, Chaz Bono, Eric Garcetti, Denver Riggleman: HOT LINKS

    7 hours ago
  • 11 Drag Queens Take On Meryl Streep’s Iconic Roles in Performance of The Prom’s ‘It’s Not About Me’ — WATCH

    11 Drag Queens Take On Meryl Streep’s Iconic Roles in Performance of The Prom’s ‘It’s Not About Me’ — WATCH

    10 hours ago
  • Acting Defense Sec’y Chris Miller Orders Pentagon to Stop Cooperating with Biden Transition Team

    Acting Defense Sec’y Chris Miller Orders Pentagon to Stop Cooperating with Biden Transition Team

    11 hours ago
  • HRC Calls on Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Apologize for Ridiculing Gender Pronouns in Series of Tweets

    HRC Calls on Tesla CEO Elon Musk to Apologize for Ridiculing Gender Pronouns in Series of Tweets

    11 hours ago
  • Dr. Jill Biden Tells Stephen Colbert She Was Surprised by Tone of Attacks on Her Title; President-Elect Calls Lindsey Graham a ‘Personal Disappointment’ in Wide-Ranging Interview: WATCH

    Dr. Jill Biden Tells Stephen Colbert She Was Surprised by Tone of Attacks on Her Title; President-Elect Calls Lindsey Graham a ‘Personal Disappointment’ in Wide-Ranging Interview: WATCH

    12 hours ago
  • Police Investigating Hate Crime After Gay Couple Finds Gingerbread Men Xmas Decorations Smeared with Feces, Placed Near Pride Flag

    Police Investigating Hate Crime After Gay Couple Finds Gingerbread Men Xmas Decorations Smeared with Feces, Placed Near Pride Flag

    13 hours ago
  • Democrats Urged to Fight for Bigger Relief Checks as Lame-Duck Trump Privately Backs Payments as Big as $2,000

    Democrats Urged to Fight for Bigger Relief Checks as Lame-Duck Trump Privately Backs Payments as Big as $2,000

    13 hours ago
  • Michael Flynn: Trump Can Take Military and Re-Run Election in Swing States — WATCH

    Michael Flynn: Trump Can Take Military and Re-Run Election in Swing States — WATCH

    13 hours ago
  • Mike Pence Receives COVID Vaccine: LIVE VIDEO

    Mike Pence Receives COVID Vaccine: LIVE VIDEO

    14 hours ago
  • Gloria Gaynor, Herd Immunity, Louie Gohmert, Dianne Feinstein, Ian McKellen, Tyson, WAP, Billy Porter: HOT LINKS

    Gloria Gaynor, Herd Immunity, Louie Gohmert, Dianne Feinstein, Ian McKellen, Tyson, WAP, Billy Porter: HOT LINKS

    1 day ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2020 · Log in