Colorado: Boulder County Clerk begins issuing same-sex marriage licenses based on 10th Circuit Court ruling

Upon issuance of the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, over in Colorado, Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall began to issue marriage licenses.

Hall's position was that since Colorado and Utah are both within the jurisdiction of the !0th Circuit Court, the ruling applied to Colorado. And upon further review decided the stay issued on the ruling did not affect Colorado.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers made it clear that the licenses are not valid.

"That's their opinion. We disagree with it," Hall said Thursday morning. "We will be here issuing marriage licenses until a Colorado court or the Supreme Court tells us to desist."

Andie Lyons, 32, and her partner were one of about 10 couples in line at the Boulder City and County building when the doors opened at 8 a.m. Thursday. Lyons knows what Suthers said but said it was still worth $30 for the license.

"We've jumped through every hoop that was available to us," Lyons said. "To us, it's as much about being apart of this moment, so we know it might not practically change our lives. We're alive at this time, and we want to be in front of that."

Josh Hufford, 31, is a software engineer from Denver and was among those waiting in line with his partner, Levi Healy, 34.

"I'm disappointed that he feels that needs to be stated," Hufford said of Suthers declaring the licenses invalid. "All this is doing is wasting taxpayers' money for something that is inevitable."

In his statement late Wednesday, Suthers said: "Any marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Colorado before a final court resolution of the issue are invalid."

Hall said Thursday that when they reviewed the Court of Appeals' ruling, it was clear that marriage is a fundamental right for everyone after they consulted with their attorneys.

"We are prepared to defend that decision — hopefully not in court," Hall said.

Watch a short clip as couples line up outside the county clerks office to get their marriage licenses.

(via Denver Post)