Alabama Appeals Same-Sex Ruling
The state of Alabama is appealing a federal judge’s order overturning the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Attorney General Luther Strange’s office filed notice Monday with the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals saying it would challenge Friday’s ruling by U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade in Mobile.
Late Sunday, Granade put her decision on hold for two weeks to allow for an appeal.
Granade ruled that Alabama’s bans on gay marriage are unconstitutional. The decision was the latest in a string of victories for same-sex marriage proponents across the Deep South.
Same-sex couple in at least two counties tried to obtain marriage licenses on Monday, but they were refused at county courthouses in Anniston and Birmingham.
Meanwhile Alabama’s only openly gay lawmaker, Rep. Patricia Todd (D-Birmingham) threatened to “out” legislators having extramarital affairs in response to some Republican lawmakers who were critical of the ruling overturning the gay marriage ban.