Federal Judge rules Colorado's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional

District Court Judge C. Scott Crabtree on Wednesday ruled the 2006 Colorado voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violates the state and federal constitutions. He immediately placed a stay on the ruling pending appeal.

This is the 24th consecutive ruling in favor of marriage equality since June of 2013,

Attorneys for nine couples argued that the state's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution.

Crabtree is the 16th judge to void a state's gay marriage ban since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the federal government has to recognize gay marriages in the states.

Freedom To Marry issued this response:

Yet another court has concluded that there is no good reason for denying gay couples the freedom to marry, and has found marriage discrimination unconstitutional. It is time that Colorado’s gay couples and their loved ones be able to share in the joy and security that marriage brings, and time for the Supreme Court to bring the freedom to marry home nationwide. Every day of denial is a day of wrongful deprivation. Today’s latest victory in the Mountain West shows that all of America is ready for the freedom to marry.

You can read the ruling below.