Court Strikes Down Kentucky Gay Marriage Ban

You can put yet another mark in same-sex marriage's win column, because a federal judge in Kentucky just struck down the state's ban on same-sex couples marrying in the state. The ban violates the Equal Protection Clause of the US Constitution by treating gay couples differently than straight couples, US District Judge John G. Heyburn of Louisville concluded in his ruling. But don't expect a sudden rush of marriages; the ruling is on temporary hold pending an expected appeal

Heyburn previously struck down Kentucky's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states and countries, but put the implementation of that ruling on hold. That decision did not deal with whether Kentucky would have to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (More Kentucky stories.)