Supreme Court Strikes Down Same-Sex Marriage

WASHINGTON(AP)- Gay weddings are already occurring in some of the states where they were banned until today’s Supreme Court decision.

In a 5-4 decision today, the Supreme Court ruled gay and lesbian Americans in all 50 states have the same right to marry as any other couples.

Four of the court’s nine justices dissented, accusing their colleagues of usurping power that belongs to the states and to voters.

States issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples now include Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama and South Dakota.

Gay couples across the South and Midwest are rushing to marry at county clerk’s offices and judge’s chambers following the Supreme Court’s ruling legalizing same-sex marriage. They are young and old. They are wearing gowns and suits or T-shirts and jeans. They are kissing and waving flags that read “love wins.”

In Louisville, Benjamin Moore and Tadd Roberts wore matching tuxedos to the county clerk’s office. They were greeted by the mayor, who gave them a bottle of champagne.

The reaction wasn’t so welcoming in some of the 14 states that hadn’t recognized same-sex marriage.

In Alabama, Pike County Probate Judge Wes Allen stopped issuing all marriage licenses to avoid giving them to gay couples.

Governors in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas railed against the ruling.