Supreme Court declines to intervene on same-sex marriage, expands marriage equality to 5 more states

The justices denied appeals from 5 states attempting to ban same-sex unions, ending delays on marriage equality

Published October 6, 2014 2:16PM (EDT)

             (Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)
(Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has turned away appeals from five states seeking to prohibit same-sex marriages, paving the way for an immediate expansion of gay and lesbian unions.

The justices on Monday did not comment in rejecting appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The court's order immediately ends delays on marriage in those states. Couples in six other states should be able to get married in short order.

That would make same-sex marriage legal in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

But the justices have left unresolved for now the question of same-sex marriage nationwide.


By Mark Sherman

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