Guam on track to be first U.S. territory to allow same-sex marriage

Guam may be the first U.S. territory to allow same-sex marriage

(Image credit: iStock)

published 15 April 2015

On Wednesday, Guam Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson told officials in the U.S. territory to immediately begin processing marriage applications for same-sex couples. Citing a ruling by the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, she instructed the Department of Public Health and Social Services to treat "all same gender marriage applicants with dignity and equality under the Constitution."

The acting head of that department, Leo Casil, said that his department won't start accepting applications yet, however, calling Barrett-Anderson's instructions a letter, not a legal opinion. Territory Gov. Eddie Baza Calzo said that the issue should be decided by the Guam Legislature or a public referendum. Barrett-Anderson's direction was in response to a legal challenge from a lesbian couple who applied for a marriage license last week and filed suit in U.S. District Court in Guam on Monday.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.