Kentucky: Federal judge strikes down ban on recognition of same-sex marriages from other states

A federal judge has ruled that Kentucky's ban on recognizing same-sex marriages from other states in unconstitutional under the equal protection clause of the US Constitution.

From the Courier-Journal:

U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II joined nine other federal and state courts in invalidating such bans.

Ruling in a suit brought by four gay and lesbian couples, Heyburn said that while “religious beliefs ... are vital to the fabric of society ... assigning a religious or traditional rationale for a law does not make it constitutional when that law discriminates against a class of people without other reasons.”

Heyburn said “it is clear that Kentucky’s laws treat gay and lesbian persons differently in a way that demeans them.”

Citing the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling throwing out the Defense of Marriage Act, Heyburn struck down the portion of Kentucky’s 2004 constitutional amendment that said “only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in Kentucky.”

Heyburn did not rule that Kentucky must allow gay marriages to be performed in the state.

Bolding above is mine.

You can read the full ruling below:

Kentucky Gay Marriage Decision

(source)