U.S. judge rules Arkansas ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional [View all]

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BY STEVE BARNES
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Tue Nov 25, 2014 8:12pm EST

(Reuters) - A U.S. district judge ruled on Tuesday that an Arkansas constitutional amendment defining marriage as being only the union of one man and one woman was unconstitutional, striking down a measure overwhelmingly approved by voters a decade ago.

U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker said the Arkansas amendment denied U.S. constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law for same-sex couples. The decision was the latest in a series striking down same-sex marriage bans imposed in many U.S. states.

"These laws impose unconstitutional classifications on the basis of gender in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution," she wrote in her decision.

Aaron Sadler, press secretary to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, said the judge issued a stay, meaning the law will stay in effect while appeals are heard.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/26/us-usa-gaymarriage-arkansas-idUSKCN0J92JA20141126