Washington state
court upholds
gay marriage ban
By today.reuters.com/news
from the Wed Jul 26, 2006
SEATTLE -- Washington state's
highest court upheld the state's ban on same-sex marriage on Wednesday, saying
the legislature had the power to limit marriage to one man and one woman.
The plaintiffs, 19 gay and lesbian couples, had challenged the constitutionality
of Washington state's Defense of Marriage Act, a law passed by the state
legislature in 1998 restricting marriage to heterosexual couples.
The court's ruling deals the latest blow to U.S. gay marriage advocates.
Earlier this month, New York's highest court ruled that the state Constitution
does not guarantee same-sex couples equal access to the rights and privileges of
marriage.
Georgia Supreme Court on July 6 reinstated a gay marriage ban that had been
thrown out by a lower court. Voters in Alabama also approved a
constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.
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