Montana Becomes 34th State to Legalize Gay Marriage After Judge Overturns Constitutional Amendment
Gay marriage supporters are cheering after U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris overturned the state of Montana's Constitutional Amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
The decision, which uses the 14th amendment (equal protection under the law) as its basis, can be read here:
Montana Governor Steve Bullock issued the following statement:
“Today’s decision ensures we are closer to fulfilling our promise of freedom, dignity, and equality for all Montanans. It is a day to celebrate our progress, while recognizing the qualities that bind us as Montanans: a desire to make a good life for ourselves and our families, while providing greater opportunities to the next generation.
I have instructed my administration to quickly take all appropriate steps to ensure that we are recognizing and affording the same rights and responsibilities to legally married same-sex couples that all married Montanans have long enjoyed.”
"It is the attorney general's sworn duty to uphold and defend Montana's constitution until such time as there is no further review or no appeal can be made in a court of law," Attorney General Tim Fox said. "Fulfilling that duty, the state of Montana will appeal this ruling in light of the fact that there are conflicting federal court decisions and no final word from the U.S. Supreme Court."