Court Invalidates Kentucky's Same-Sex Marriage Ban; Stays Order

In Love v. Beshear, (WD KY, July 1, 2014), a Kentucky federal district court held that Kentucky's statutory and constitutional provisions barring same-sex marriage violate the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection clause and are unenforceable. Judge Heyburn wrote in part:

in America even sincere and long-held religious views do not trump the constitutional rights of those who happen to have been out-voted. 

However, the court stayed its order until further order of the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.  The same court earlier this year held that Kentucky must recognize valid same-sex marriages performed elsewhere. (See prior posting.) Washington Post reports on yesterday's decision. [Thanks to Tom Rutledge for the lead.]