GAY NEWS FLASH: Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban in Kansas

When gay news breaks, we flash it.

A judge in Kansas stuck down the state’s gay marriage ban this afternoon. The Washington Blade has more:

In a 38-page decision, U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree, an Obama appointee, issued a preliminary injunction against the enforcement on Kansas law prohibiting of marriage rights for same-sex couples. The injunction is warranted, Crabtree writes, because of legal precedent and because state officials defending the law haven’t made a sufficient case they would prevail in court.

“Because Kansas’ constitution and statutes indeed do what Kitchen forbids, the Court concludes that Kansas’ same-sex marriage ban violates the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution,” Crabtree writes. “Accordingly, the Court grants plaintiffs’ request for preliminary relief and enters the injunction described at the end of this Order.”

A temporary stay was included as part of the decision, so same-sex couples won’t be able to in Kansas until 5 pm Central Time on Nov. 11, unless defendants sooner inform the court they won’t seek an appeal before the Tenth Circuit.

When the wedding bells start ringing, that will make 33 states! Welcome to the club, Kansas. Dorothy would be so proud.