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Utah Transitions To Legal Same Sex Marriage

Taylor Hayes/KUER

As same sex marriage once again became legal in Utah yesterday (Monday), state officials and gay couples prepared to accept a new and now permanent change in the law.

When Utahns woke up to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Monday, not to hear marriage appeals from five states, the plaintiffs who challenged Utah’s law were still processing the fact that same-sex was now legal. Kate Call expressed relief that her marriage to her wife Karen Archer probably won’t be legally challenged again.

“We are delighted that we don’t have to wait any longer.  This is almost immediate now. The stays will be lifted or will very shortly be lifted and marriage will continue now… and we’re getting married, folks!” said Call.

Just hours after the Supreme Court’s announcement,  judges on the 10th Circuit Court issued a mandate that upheld the Federal District court ruling abolishing Utah’s same sex marriage ban.  Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes told reporters later that county clerks could now issues marriage licenses to gay couples.

“We wish that they and their team would with all professionalism make sure that they recognize all legal marriages and help all those in the process of making a smooth transition as our laws transition as well,” said Reyes.

It wasn’t long before several gay couples walked into the Salt Lake County Clerks’s office  seeking marriage licenses.  Jason McDermaid and ZacherySmallwood have waited nearly a decade for this day and Jason is eager to plan their upcoming wedding.

“We’re really excited. We’re going to get married on our anniversary, on the 2nd of November, it will be nine years that day,” said Jason McDermaid.

The Attorney General’s office sent a letter out late Monday afternoon to county clerks offices and other state agencies informing them that Utah now recognizes same sex marriage and offering guidance on how to make necessary transition.

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