PHOTOS: Ark. Couples Rush to Marry, Fearing Court Stay

[William769]

Several dozen same-sex couples have been married in at least two Arkansas counties since a state judge struck down a constitutional ban on such marriages Friday.

Same-sex couples lined up outside county clerks' offices in Arkansas's Pulaski and Washington counties today, hoping to take advantage of the brief marriage equality window before a judge's Friday ruling is likely put on hold.

The Pulaski County Courthouse in Little Rock opened at 8 a.m. Central time today and began issuing marriage licenses to some of the dozens of same-sex couples who gathered there before dawn, reports the Arkansas Times. Pulaski County clerk Larry Crane announced Friday that he would begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples when his office opened for business Monday, intending to honor a state court ruling from Judge Chris Piazza that struck down Arkansas' statutory and constitutional bans on same-sex marriage Friday.

Arkansas attorney general Dustin McDaniel has filed a request with both Piazza and the state's Supreme Court to stay that ruling, but as of 12 Noon, neither court had granted that stay. McDaniel is a Democrat who recently told press he personally supports marriage equality, but also said his job requires him to defend the laws of the state, and therefore he plans to appeal Piazza's ruling.

Fifteen same-sex couples received marriage licenses at the Carroll County courthouse in Eureka Springs when it opened for regularly scheduled business hours Saturday, although there was an initial delay when some employees of the county clerk's office were unsure how to proceed. After briefly shutting down the office, the employees decided to grant marriage licenses to the same-sex couples who had gathered to take advantage of their newly recognized rights.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/05/12/photos-ark-couples-rush-marry-fearing-court-stay

It's utterly disgusting that people have to rush & scramble to get married in a day because the next they may not be able to. Equal protection under the law? My fucking Gay Ass!

On the bright side though.



Many more at link from instagram

[William769]

1. Kick.

[winter is coming]

2. Including a couple where at least one spouse is a DUer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024944049

[William769]

3. Thanks!

I just saw that thread and posted.