The Ohio gay marriage ruling has been stayed. Appeals will likely take months.

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Judge Timothy Black has stayed his ruling in Ohio. The ruling, which would require the state to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who were married outside of Ohio, is most likely stayed for months. Appeals have yet to get underway.

Four same-sex couples who sued the state will have their marriages recognized, but everyone else needs to wait. Judge Black stated that the widespread effects of the ruling could have “premature celebration and confusion,” and he doesn’t want this to happen in case it gets overturned in the appeals process. “The court recognizes that recognition of same-sex marriages is a hotly contested issue in the contemporary legal landscape, and, if (the) appeal is ultimately successful, the absence of a stay … is likely to lead to confusion, potential inequity and high costs,” Black stated. “Premature celebration and confusion do not serve anyone’s best interests.”

Had the stay not been issued, all same-sex couples in Ohio would have the same benefits as all other married couples in the state.

“It’s frustrating,” said Liz Wilson, who married her wife last year. “At the end of the day you just want your family to be safe and secure.”

While Judge Black doesn’t believe that the appeals process will succeed, he wants to be prepared.

Photo: Wikipedia