A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriages.
US District Judge John Heyburn, like judges in other same-sex marriage cases, cited the Constitution's Equal Protection Clause in justifying his ruling.
"Assuring equal protection for same-sex couples does not diminish the freedom of others to any degree"
"Assuring equal protection for same-sex couples does not diminish the freedom of others to any degree," Heyburn wrote. "Thus, same-sex couples' right to marry seems to be a uniquely 'free' constitutional right. Hopefully, even those opposed to or uncertain about same-sex marriage will see it that way in the future."
The decision, however, was put on hold until it works through the appeals process. That means Kentucky's same-sex couples will not be able to get married until a higher court makes a more definitive decision.
The decision is just one of many victories for LGBT advocates since the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on same-sex marriages. Most recently, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals and judges in Indiana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Oregon ruled in favor of same-sex marriage rights.
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