Lawsuit Challenges Alabama’s Same Sex Marriage Ban

Alabama is one of 33 states that bans same sex marriage.

 

The state also won’t legally recognize a same sex marriage from other states.

 

But the SPLC is working to change that because of one man’s tragedy. 

 

“I asked the orderly who was escorting me back, is he badly hurt? The orderly simply said he’s dead.”

 

Paul Hard is an Alabama native who married his partner in Massachusetts in 2011. After only two months of marriage his partner was killed in a car accident on I-65. 

On his death certificate it says that he was never married. 

 

“Why is this important? It’s important because nobody should ever have to go through this. At the worst extreme of our lives we should be able to expect the compassion and support of our fellow citizens,” said Hard. 

 

His lawyer says that Alabama’s Marriage Protection Act and the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment violate equal protection covered under the US Constitution.

 

“The sanctity laws silence and demean lesbian and gay Alabamians by sending a clear message. You are less than other citizens and indeed your relationships mean nothing here,” said attorney Sam Wolfe.

 

But Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard says marriage in Alabama is just fine the way it is. 

 

“I hope that they’re not successful. You know it is concerning when you see some of the left wing liberal judges out there making rulings, you know it is concerning,” said Speaker Hubbard.

 

The amendment to not recognize same sex marriages from other states passed overwhelmingly in Alabama by 81% of voters.

 

Other states have had similar laws overturned. A federal judge just ruled Wednesday that Kentucky has to recognize same sex marriage from other states.