A federal appeals court has upheld Kentucky's ban on same sex marriage. The ruling by the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court in Cincinnati yesterday covered appeals from Kentucky as well as Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. Kent Ostrander with the Family Foundation of Kentucky believes the ruling reaffirms a political decision made by voters.
"Clearly Kentucky voter strongly to protect marriage and that's our right to do so,” Ostrander said. “This court agreed with that and they're the first circuit court to do so and we're very pleased."
Paul Brown, President of Lexington's Gay and Lesbian Services Organization said he was dismayed by the ruling. He based that on a series of appeals court rulings in other parts of the U.S. that overturned
"And yet for some reason, our part of the country seems to want to hold back and be not as progressive as the rest of the country," Brown said.
Both men expect the issue now to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Now that we have a circuit court decision, there's a conflict within the circuits, and I believe they will have to involve themselves and make a resolution of that," Ostrander said.
Brown says it isn’t clear how the Supreme Court would rule.
"I don't feel very comfortable predicting how they will rule when they do take it on."
Brown says more than 30 states now have equal marriage rights.
Following yesterday's ruling, Governor Beshear said Kentucky has taken another step toward what the state and this nation need. Beshear hopes for a ruling by the United States Supreme Court that establishes clear direction for all the states.
