Same-Sex Marriage in Virginia Takes Effect on Aug. 20 Unless Supreme Court Intervenes
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Worthy News)– A federal appeals court on Wednesday cleared the way for same-sex marriages to be performed in Virginia as soon as next week, denying a request to stay its ruling striking down the state’s ban on the unions, the Washington Times reported.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, on a 2-1 vote last month, upheld a lower court ruling saying the ban violated constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection. By the same vote, the judges refused the request for a stay.
The decision means gay marriages could be performed in the state as early as Aug. 20 — seven days from the day the order rejecting the stay request was issued. The Supreme Court could still issue a stay of its own to prevent the law from taking effect. — Source