Breaking: Montana Gets Its First Same-Sex Marriage Lawsuit
Four same-sex couples have filed a federal lawsuit against the state of Montana for the freedom to marry. The couples seek to overturn a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage that voters in 2004 passed by a 67-33 margin.
“The lawsuit alleges the ban denies same-sex couples the freedom and dignity afforded to other Montanans, and denies them the state and federal legal protections and benefits that come with marriage,” the AP reports.
“We want Aden to grow up knowing that we are a family like any other family,” plaintiff Shauna Goubeaux said in a statement of her and wife Nicole’s 1-year-old son. “Marriage is part of being a family. By being plaintiffs in this case, we are showing him his mommies will stand up for what is right and stand up for him... Montanans cherish our freedom and recognize the individual dignity of every one of us,” Democratic governor Steve Bullock said in a statement. “The time has come for our state to recognize and celebrate – not discriminate against – two people who love one another, are committed to each other, and want to spend their lives together.”
In October, a poll (PDF) found 46.6 percent of voters in Big Sky Country support marriage equality, while 42.6 percent oppose it.
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-montana-gets-its-first-same-sex-marriage-lawsuit/politics/2014/05/21/87830
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