• 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

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Gets a Dose of Culture with the Island’s Galleries, Artists and Performers: LISTEN
  • Another Bad Romance: Lady Gaga & Michael Polansky ‘Hit A Wall’ After They Couldn’t Agree On Marriage & Babies
  • Florida moves to expand ban on sexual orientation, gender identity teaching

Wyoming Governor: State Won’t Appeal Ruling Striking Down Gay Marriage Ban

Andy Towle October 18, 2014

Echoing similar sentiments he made during a campaign debate this week, Wyoming Governor Matt Mead released an official statement last night saying that it would be futile for the State of Wyoming to appeal a ruling striking down the state's gay marriage ban to a federal appeals court that has just struck down similar bans within the circuit.

MeadMead also said the Attorney General will file a notice saying as such. At that point the stay implemented by U.S. Circuit Judge Scott Skavdahl should be lifted and couples would then be able to marry in the…Equality State.

Mead's full statement:

The State of Utah and the State of Oklahoma defined marriage as only between a man and a woman.  The laws of these states were challenged in the federal courts.  On appeal, in each case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit ruled that the laws of Utah and Oklahoma violated the U.S. Constitution.  Utah and Oklahoma appealed these decisions to the United States Supreme Court.  The United States Supreme Court declined to hear these appeals.  Wyoming was not a party to these proceedings and Wyoming’s statute was not challenged.

Wyoming has a statute defining marriage as between a man and a woman.  Unless a statute is challenged and determined to be unconstitutional by a court, it remains in effect.  The Governor has no authority to invalidate a Wyoming statute and has an obligation to defend the laws of Wyoming.

Plaintiffs brought an action in the federal District Court for Wyoming, asking the Court to rule Wyoming’s statute also violates the U.S. Constitution.

Flag_wyomingToday, the federal district court has issued a preliminary injunction in the matter of Guzzo v. Mead. This decision allows same-sex couples to marry in Wyoming.  The Attorney General, after reviewing the ruling of the federal district court, has advised that an appeal to the very court that ruled these laws unconstitutional, an opinion that the Supreme Court declined to review, would be unlikely to succeed.

“This result is contrary to my personal beliefs and those of many others.  As in all matters, I respect the role of the courts and the ruling of the Court,” said Governor Mead.

There are complicated legal questions between the state and federal court system.  The plaintiffs have also filed a state court case, which is still active, although any decision by that court would not change the right of same-sex couples to marry.

“While this is not the result I and others would have hoped, I recognize people have different points of view and I hope all citizens agree, we are bound by the law,” said Governor Mead.

The federal court’s order, which will come into effect no later than Thursday, October 23, 2014, at 5:00 p.m., allows same-sex couples to marry in Wyoming. The District Court suspended its order to permit the State of Wyoming to appeal its decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. The Attorney General will file notice with the court that the State will not appeal before that date.

Topics: News, Supreme Court More Posts About: gay marriage, News, Wyoming

Related Posts
  • Election defeat looms for Trump’s biggest Republican critic
  • Former Roommate Indicted For Murder Of Florida LGBTQ Activist Jorge Diaz-Johnston, One of the Public Faces In State Fight For Marriage Equality
  • Russia Blocks Facebook, Accusing it of Restricting Access to Russian Media;
  • Another Bad Romance: Lady Gaga & Michael Polansky ‘Hit A Wall’ After They Couldn’t Agree On Marriage & Babies

    Another Bad Romance: Lady Gaga & Michael Polansky ‘Hit A Wall’ After They Couldn’t Agree On Marriage & Babies

    Published by Radar Online Mega Lady Gaga and her boyfriend Michael Polansky have gone their separate ways after two years of dating, RadarOnline.com has learned. “They broke up a few months ago,” blabbed a source. “It …Read More »
  • Florida moves to expand ban on sexual orientation, gender identity teaching

    Florida moves to expand ban on sexual orientation, gender identity teaching

    Published by Reuters By Sharon Bernstein (Reuters) – Florida is looking to expand its ban on teaching young children about sexual orientation and gender identity issues to include all students in its public schools under a …Read More »
  • Bisexual ‘Love Island’ Star Megan Barton Hanson Rakes In $1.5 Million On OnlyFans

    Bisexual ‘Love Island’ Star Megan Barton Hanson Rakes In $1.5 Million On OnlyFans

    Published by uInterview.com Former Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson has been minting money after uploading her sexy pictures on the OnlyFans platform. The 28-year-old former reality star has reportedly made over $1.5 million from posting …Read More »
  • Judge tosses suit from 36 congregations looking to leave Methodist church over LGBTQ

    Judge tosses suit from 36 congregations looking to leave Methodist church over LGBTQ

    Published by The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A lawsuit by dozens of conservative United Methodist churches in western North Carolina wishing to break away from their governing body was thrown out of court Tuesday by …Read More »
Previous Post: « With Gay Marriage Pushing Forward, Religious Conservatives Turn Attention to ‘Religious Exemption’ Bills
Next Post: Hillsong Megachurch Pastor Brian Houston: ‘We’re on the Journey’ with Homosexuality — AUDIO »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • Right-wing crowdfunding site hosts neo-Nazi project to create whites-only community in Maine

    Right-wing crowdfunding site hosts neo-Nazi project to create whites-only community in Maine

  • Lourdes Leon Insists She Is ‘Nothing Without My Family’ Months After Madonna Admits Motherhood Is ‘Exhausting’

    Lourdes Leon Insists She Is ‘Nothing Without My Family’ Months After Madonna Admits Motherhood Is ‘Exhausting’

  • QAnon follower charged in bizarre booby trap incident that injured salesman

    QAnon follower charged in bizarre booby trap incident that injured salesman

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • RBG’s death set off a pattern of ‘distrust and discord’ that still plagues the Supreme Court today

    RBG’s death set off a pattern of ‘distrust and discord’ that still plagues the Supreme Court today

  • ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Announces His Run For President From Behind Bars

    ‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Announces His Run For President From Behind Bars

  • Gwyneth Paltrow says rectal ozone therapy has been ‘very helpful’

    Gwyneth Paltrow says rectal ozone therapy has been ‘very helpful’

RSS Partner Links

  • An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.

Most Recent

  • ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Gets a Dose of Culture with the Island’s Galleries, Artists and Performers: LISTEN

    ‘Gay Key West Uncovered’ Gets a Dose of Culture with the Island’s Galleries, Artists and Performers: LISTEN

  • Another Bad Romance: Lady Gaga & Michael Polansky ‘Hit A Wall’ After They Couldn’t Agree On Marriage & Babies

    Another Bad Romance: Lady Gaga & Michael Polansky ‘Hit A Wall’ After They Couldn’t Agree On Marriage & Babies

  • Florida moves to expand ban on sexual orientation, gender identity teaching

    Florida moves to expand ban on sexual orientation, gender identity teaching

  • Bisexual ‘Love Island’ Star Megan Barton Hanson Rakes In $1.5 Million On OnlyFans

    Bisexual ‘Love Island’ Star Megan Barton Hanson Rakes In $1.5 Million On OnlyFans

  • Judge tosses suit from 36 congregations looking to leave Methodist church over LGBTQ

    Judge tosses suit from 36 congregations looking to leave Methodist church over LGBTQ

  • Howard Stern Yearns For Comedian Jon Stewart To Run For President: ‘The Most Trusted Newsman In The Country’

    Howard Stern Yearns For Comedian Jon Stewart To Run For President: ‘The Most Trusted Newsman In The Country’

  • Arkansas enacts law restricting school bathroom use by transgender people

    Arkansas enacts law restricting school bathroom use by transgender people

  • Madonna Lets Loose On Horseback As She Mocks Haters With Remix Of Her Viral Grammys Speech: Watch

    Madonna Lets Loose On Horseback As She Mocks Haters With Remix Of Her Viral Grammys Speech: Watch

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×