Alabama gay grooms

Gay couples such as LaDarius and William are suddenly (and unlawfully) banned from getting legally married in Alabama. Read their wedding feature here. Photo: j.woodbery photography

The chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court has taken it upon himself to order the state’s probate judges on Wednesday not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples because it’s just too confusing to make everyone follow the law.

Chief Justice Roy Moore said the U.S. Supreme Court decision is at odds with earlier opinions by the state’s highest court, resulting in “confusion and uncertainty” among probate judges.

Many of the state’s judges have been issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples since the national ruling, while others refused to do so or stopped issuing licenses to any couples, Moore said.

“This disparity affects the administration of justice in this state,” he said in his administrative order.

So instead of making sure everyone can get married under the law and forcing all judges to comply with equality, he’s making sure the LGBTQ community continues to suffer while he examines this “disparity.”

Reuters has more on this breaking news story.