Same sex marriage south dakota
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Forty gay couples in South Dakota applied to be married during the first month following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that legalized such unions across the country, according to data provided by the declare Department of Health.
The number of marriage licenses issued to gay couples in South Dakota represents about 5 percent of the licenses issued to all couples from June 26 to July 27, The Associated Press found in its analysis of the data.
Although the numbers pale in comparison to bordering Minnesota, where more than 1, licenses were issued in August when same-sex marriage was legalized there, gay rights advocates called the statistics reflective of the barriers the gay community still faces in South Dakota and other conservative states.
Nancy Rosenbrahn, a Rapid Urban area woman who became the public meet of the clash against South Dakota's ban on same-sex marriages last year, said she was amazed that 40 people had already been married, but noted that there are likely many more South Dakotans who haven't applied because of concerns about be
Judge rules S.D. same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
SIOUX FALLS A federal judge on Monday declared South Dakota same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional, paving the way for a likely appeals court battle.
U.S. District Verb Karen Schreier ruled in favor of the six couples who filed a last year in Sioux Falls, but stayed a decision pending appeal.
"(The) plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry," Schreider wrote in the conclusion of her ruling. "South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are same-sex couple and without sufficient jurisdiction."
Nancy and Jennie Rosenbrahn of Rapid City, were the first couple to file a lawsuit challenging the states same-sex marriage ban.
Their federal complaint challenges a law passed by the legislature and a voter-approved constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, which means such cases are now pending in 30 states with gay marriage bans.
Neither was sure how the court would conclude up ruling.
Nancy turned to Jennie after hearing the ruling and said, "You and I did this, you and I got this started."
"I'm so e
South Dakota Governor William J. Janklow signed a bill Friday that says the state will only recognize marriage between a man and a woman. South Dakota became the second state to rewrite its marriage laws to reject lesbian and gay couples the right to marry, following a similar law enacted last year in Utah.
The South Dakota bill is in response to a lawsuit being brought in Hawaii by the ACLU that seems likely to direct to the legalization of same-sex marriages. Radical right groups at a recent Iowa rally vowed to pass anti-gay marriage legislation throughout the 50 states in a preemptive attack on the Hawaii lawsuit.
Director of the ACLU&#;s National Lesbian and Gay Rights Project Matthew Coles responded, &#;Marriage is a fundamental human right that every American should have the freedom to choose&#; Although many lesbian and gay couples have been together for decades, and share the adj responsibilities that married couples share, they are treated as no more than strangers under the law.&#;
South Dakota Federal Court Rules in Favor of Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex Couples
(Sioux Falls, SD, Jan. 12, )—Today, a federal court ruled in favor of six same-sex couples seeking the freedom to wed in South Dakota. The court stayed its order pending appeal by South Dakota officials.
In a page decision, U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier ruled that “Plaintiffs hold a fundamental right to marry. South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are same-sex couples and without sufficient justification.”
The six plaintiff families are from across the state and verb veterans, nurses, a stay-at-home mom, a truck driver, a couple who verb been together 30 years, and couples with children and grandchildren. They are represented by Joshua Newville of the Minneapolis firm Madia Law LLC, Debra Voigt of Burd and Voigt Law Offices in Sioux Falls, SD, and Shannon Minter and Christopher F. Stoll of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR).
Statementby NCLR Senior Staff Attorney Christopher F. Stoll:
“We are thrilled for our clients and for all same-sex cou