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Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere to be recognized in Kentucky

Greg Bourke, front, and his partner Michael Deleon speak to reporters following the ruling by U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn earlier this month that Kentucky must recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. On Thursday, Heyburn issued a final order reinforcing his ruling and didn't address a request by the state for a state.
(Timothy D. Easley / Associated Press)
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Same-sex marriages performed elsewhere will be recognized in Kentucky at least for now, a federal judge ordered on Thursday.

U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn II issued a final order throwing out part of the state’s ban on gay marriages. The order makes official his Feb. 12 ruling that Kentucky’s ban on same-sex marriages violated equal-protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

“Those laws ... are void and unenforceable,” the judge said in his order.

The ruling ordering Kentucky to recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere takes effect even though state officials had asked the judge to stay enforcement. Heyburn did not address the state’s motion.

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Heyburn’s ruling allows same-sex couples to change their names on official identifications and documents and obtain any other benefits of a married couple in Kentucky.

The order doesn’t deal with a related lawsuit seeking to force the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Texas struck down that state’s gay marriage ban but immediately delayed the implementation of his ruling pending appeals by the state.

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