1st Circuit Court Of Appeals Rules Puerto Rico's Ban On Same-Sex Marriage Unconstitutional

When a marriage equality case went before the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this year regarding Puerto Rico's ban on same-sex marriage, the court put the case on hold, deciding to wait for the (then) impending SCOTUS ruling.

Today, the 1st Circuit ruled (not surprisingly) that Puerto Rico's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional.

From Lambda Legal:

Today’s decision provides further recognition of the dignity and equality of LGBT people in Puerto Rico. We applaud the First Circuit for recognizing that Puerto Rico’s marriage ban is unconstitutional, and reversing the lower court ruling. We also commend the Puerto Rico government for joining in the call to end the marriage ban.

Certainly, after the historic ruling from the Supreme Court, this ruling from the First Circuit was not unexpected. There remains no legal or moral justification for forcing same-sex couples in Puerto Rico to wait any longer to have their love and commitment recognized by the state.

The Governor of Puerto Rico already signed an executive order on June 26 that marriages will begin 15 days after the Supreme Court ruling, but now that the First Circuit has agreed that the marriage ban is unconstitutional, same-sex couples should be able to marry now. To do otherwise is to put form over substance.