Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Hell Yeah!
Judge strikes down Georgia's gay marriage ban
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's two-year-old ban on same-sex marriage was struck down by a judge on procedural grounds, a ruling that frustrated conservatives and likely sets the stage for further legal wrangling.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance C. Russell ruled Tuesday that the measure, overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004, had violated the state constitution's single-subject rules for ballot questions.
Gay rights activists savored their victory, but said they were on guard for an appeal to the state's highest court and a push from the measure's GOP backers to call a special session of the state's Legislature to revive the issue in time for November's elections.
"Civil unions and marriages are different things and people feel differently about them," she said. "And they need to be able to vote on them separately."
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's two-year-old ban on same-sex marriage was struck down by a judge on procedural grounds, a ruling that frustrated conservatives and likely sets the stage for further legal wrangling.
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance C. Russell ruled Tuesday that the measure, overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004, had violated the state constitution's single-subject rules for ballot questions.
Gay rights activists savored their victory, but said they were on guard for an appeal to the state's highest court and a push from the measure's GOP backers to call a special session of the state's Legislature to revive the issue in time for November's elections.
"Civil unions and marriages are different things and people feel differently about them," she said. "And they need to be able to vote on them separately."
