In 1998 Alaska became the first state to ban gay marriage. Today, 16 years later, a federal judge has overturned the ban as being violative of the 14th amendment which guarantees equal protection and due process to all.
Currently 27 states and the District of Columbia allow same sex marriages including, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusets, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell plans to appeal the decision because, "As Alaska Governor, I have a duty to defend and uphold the law and the Alaska Constitution." Notwithstanding, 8 additional states are poised to join the other 27 if they survive the appeals process. These states include, Alaska, Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina, Montana, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming.
In response to Governor Parnell's decision to appeal, Joshua Decker as Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alaska stated, "It's really unfortunate the Governor wants to continue to swim against the tide of history and try to perpetuate discrimination against Alaskans." One does not have to be an Oceanographer, to be able to see that the same sex marriage tide has turned.
Long Island Lawyer
Paul A. Lauto, Esq.
www.liattorney.com