December, 23 2013, 03:30pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Angela Dallara
Media Relations Manager, Freedom to Marry
angela@freedomtomarry.org
646-430-3925
Federal Judge Says OH Must Recognize Out-of-State Marriages for Same-Sex Couples
Ruling Narrowly Focused on Death Certificates
CINCINNATI
Today a federal district judge ruled that Ohio officials must recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who married out of state, for the purposes of being listed as married on death certificates.
Marc Solomon, national campaign director of Freedom to Marry, released the following statement:
"Today's ruling in federal district court in Ohio powerfully affirms the principle that states cannot pick and choose which legal marriages legally are honored and respected. While this ruling only applies to death certificates in Ohio, it's a strong demonstration that a marriage patchwork is unsustainable and that the freedom to marry must be affirmed nationwide, as soon as possible."
Of note, this ruling references Justice Antonin Scalia's dissent in the WIndsor ruling striking down DOMA, as did last week's Utah district court decision guaranteeing the freedom to marry.
Freedom to Marry is the gay and non-gay partnership working to win marriage equality nationwide. Headed by Evan Wolfson, one of America's leading civil rights advocates and lawyers, Freedom to Marry brings new resources and a renewed context of urgency and opportunity to this social justice movement.
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