State judge counters federal court, rules Louisiana gay marriage ban unconstitutional

A judge in Louisiana on Monday ruled that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, directly countering a federal court that less than three weeks ago reached the opposite conclusion.

In his ruling, Judge Edward Rubin recognized the marriage of two women who wed in California, and said the state should begin allowing other same-sex couples to marry in Louisiana, too. Earlier this month, a federal judge upheld the state's ban, saying there was no "fundamental right" to gay marriage. That ruling was the first defeat at the federal level for same-sex marriage proponents since the Supreme Court ruled on the issue last year.

The state says it will appeal the latest decision.

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