Yesterday, a federal judge, U.S. District Court Judge Alan C. Kay, ruled against two Hawaiian women requesting a marriage license, the Associated Press reports, handing a victory to opponents of gay marriage in the state, including Hawaii Health Director Loretta Fuddy and Hawaii Family Forum.
Natasha Jackson and Janin Kleid say they filed the lawsuit because they need to be married in order to receive certain federal benefits. Co-plaintiff Gary Bradley wants to marry his foreign national partner to help him change his immigration status. While Dale Schowengerdt, an attorney representing Hawaii Family Forum, said, “the ruling affirms that protecting and strengthening marriage as the union of one man and one woman is legitimate, reasonable, and good for society,” the actual court ruling was a little bit more vague, really dodging the bullet of decision.
“…Hawaii’s marriage laws are not unconstitutional,” the ruling states. “Nationwide, citizens are engaged in a robust debate over the divisive social issue. If the traditional institution of marriage is to be reconstructed, as sought by the plaintiffs, it should be done by a democratically elected legislature or the people through a constitutional amendment.”
Jackson and Kleid’s attorney, John D’Amato, said the couple will appeal.
“We had hoped that Judge Kay would open his eyes to what we believe to be obvious discrimination against gay couples,” said D’Amato following the decision. Governor Neil Abercrombie went on record saying that he disagreed with the ruling and would join the couples if they do indeed appeal.
Photo: expression808.com
