Judge plans to strike down Ohio ban on recognizing out-of-state gay marriages

JUSTIN SULLIVAN/Getty Images

Judge plans to strike down Ohio ban on recognizing out-of-state gay marriages
(Image credit: JUSTIN SULLIVAN/Getty Images)

Ohio must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who wed in a state where such unions are legal, federal Judge Timothy Black declared on Friday. He has not issued a ruling yet, but plans to.

The judge's decision, which would prohibit Ohio officials from enforcing a voter-approved ban on recognizing these out-of-state gay marriages, would take effect April 14. Black said the ban violates "constitutional rights to equal protection and due process." Announcing the ruling ahead of time gives the state time to appeal. However, as the AP notes, this doesn't mean same-sex couples can legally get married in Ohio.

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Jordan Valinsky is the lead writer for Speed Reads. Before joining The Week, he wrote for New York Observer's tech blog, Betabeat, and tracked the intersection between popular culture and the internet for The Daily Dot. He graduated with a degree in online journalism from Ohio University.