Arkansas is the latest state—and the first southern state—in which a judge's ruling for marriage equality has led to same-sex couples actually being able to marry legally.
Friday:
In a 13-page decision, Judge Chris Piazza ruled that Arkansas laws barring same-sex couples from marriage violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Piazza recalls the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Loving v. Virginia striking down bans on interracial marriage throughout the country more than 40 years ago, predicting the same thing will happen with bans on same-sex marriage.
“It has been over forty years since Mildred Loving was given the right to marry the person of her choice,” Piazza writes. “The hatred and fears have long since vanished and she and her husband lived full lives together; so it will be for the same-sex couples. It is time to let that beacon of freedom shine brighter on all our brothers and sisters. We will be stronger for it.”
It's worth noting that Piazza is a county judge joining the parade of federal judges who have issued similar decisions in recent months. And, since he did not stay his decision,
Saturday:
An Arkansas clerk has issued the state's first gay marriage license, breaking a barrier that voters put in place with a constitutional amendment 10 years ago.
Carroll County Deputy Clerk Jane Osborn issued a license Saturday morning to Kristin Seaton and Jennifer Rambo of Fort Smith.
Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel says he will appeal despite his personal support for marriage equality.