Same-sex couples would have to postpone their celebrations on the strikedown of the gay marriage ban in Utah. Bloomberg reported that the US Court of Appeals in Denver has allowed the state to postpone the recognition of marital benefits for same-sex couples during the two-week period following the strikedown of the marriage ban by a federal judge in December. This would mean that the May 19 lower court order to grant the benefits will not begin on June 9.
The news agency said that the news would have an impact on over a thousand same-sex couple who have received their marriage licenses from December 23 to January 6 following the decision by a Salt Lake City judge that ruled the state's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional and before the US Supreme Court had put the ruling on hold to allow Utah to appeal the decision. The Denver-based appeals court has yet to issue its final ruling on the appeal.
The appeals court has already directed attorneys for plaintiffs to file the next round of arguments by June 12.
On the other hand, it is most likely that the LGBT community could wait a little while longer given the recent string of legal victories it snagged on gay marriage ever since the US Supreme Court overturned a 1996 ban on federal recognition of gay marriages. At the moment, same-sex marriage is now legally recognized in 19 US states and the District of Columbia. Lawsuits and appeals are currently pending in 30 other states. Aside from Utah, five other states have the rulings that strike down local marriage bans are put on hold.
Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes said in a statement posted on his website regarding the hold, "We appreciate the circuit court granting the stay request and acknowledging the need for more time to allow all parties a chance to address such important issues."
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