In 1998, Alaska became the first of two states to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage.
On Sunday, a federal judge overturned the 16-year ban, saying the Constitution guarantees equal protection to all.
The judge’s ruling makes Alaska the latest state where gay and lesbian couples can legally marry.
“The plaintiffs in this case do not ask the court to recognize an entirely new fundamental right to same-sex marriage; rather, plaintiffs wish to participate in the existing liberty granted to other couples to make a deeply personal choice about a private family matter,” U.S. District Judge Timothy Burgess wrote in his 25-page ruling.
Alaska says it will appeal.
“As Alaska’s governor, I have a duty to defend and uphold the law and the Alaska Constitution,” Gov. Sean Parnell said.
But how much luck the state will have going that route remains to be seen.
An appeal will take the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which last week ruled against Idaho and Nevada in similar cases.
