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We have the latest from Utah, where the state has committed to spending millions of dollars
to undo marriage equality. An apology from a Florida governor who has now changed his
mind on banning the freedom to marry. Plus, new promises of yet another federal lawsuit
in a conservative state.
For the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Baume, and welcome to Marriage News
Watch for January 6, 2014.
There are several new developments in the Utah case this week. After a federal judge
legalized marriage equality in Utah last month, the state has now hired Idaho attorney Monte
Stewart to represent them on appeal. Republican lawmakers have pledged to spend up to two
million dollars of taxpayer funds to try to overturn the freedom to marry, even though
the case has already passed what should be its most expensive hurdles. For comparison,
the entire cost of defending DOMA from start to finish was two point three million dollars.
Also last week, the state requested an emergency stay from the US Supreme Court. If granted,
the stay would halt marriage equality during the appeals process. We could have a decision
from the court on the stay any day now.
In the mean time, the appeal of the ruling is moving ahead with a very rapid schedule.
The opening brief is due on January 27th, a response brief is due February 18, then
a reply on February 25th, and then oral arguments will follow that. We could easily have a ruling
from the 10th circuit by this summer. That could potentially mean the case could go to
the US Supreme Court for the session starting at the end of this year.
Turning to the other states, the Michigan Department of State has confirmed that it
will not allow gay couples who marry out of state to change their names on their Michigan
driver's licenses. Former Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist has apologized for
his past support for a ban on marriage and civil unions.
Alaska attorney Caitlin Shortell has revealed plans to file a federal lawsuit in that state
later this month. And officials in Maine have announced that in the first year of marriage
equality, over 1,500 gay and lesbian couples got married in the state. That's sixteen percent
of all Maine marriages.
Those are the headlines. Subscribe here on YouTube to stay up to date on all these stories.
For the American Foundation for Equal Rights, I'm Matt Baume. See you next week.