Same-sex marriage in Utah

Same-sex marriage has been legal in Utah since October 6, 2014. On December 20, 2013, the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples as a result of the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah's ruling in the case of Kitchen v. Herbert, which found that barring same-sex couples from marrying violates the U.S. Constitution. The issuance of those licenses was halted during the period of January 6, 2014 until October 6, 2014, following the resolution of a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage. On that day, following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear an appeal in a case that found Utah's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to recognize same-sex marriage.[1][2]

Same-sex marriage became temporarily legal in Utah on December 20, 2013, as a result of a ruling from the U.S. District Court for the District of Utah. The U.S. Supreme Court stayed the ruling on January 6, 2014, while the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver considered the case.[3] On June 25, 2014, the Tenth Circuit upheld the lower court ruling, a decision that set a precedent for every state within the circuit. However, the Tenth Circuit stayed its ruling. On October 6, the Supreme Court refused to hear the state's appeal, requiring Utah to license and recognize same-sex marriages. Same-sex marriages that were performed in December 2013 and January 2014 are recognized by the federal government, but a ruling requiring the state of Utah to recognize such marriages was stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court on July 18, 2014. The state later asked the Tenth Circuit to dismiss its appeal in this case.[4]

Polling suggests that a majority of Utahns support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.[5]

  1. ^ Romboy, Dennis (October 6, 2014). "Same-sex marriage stay lifted in Utah, marriage licenses issued in Salt Lake City". Deseret News. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  2. ^ Romboy, Dennis (October 6, 2014). "Same-sex marriage legal in Utah after Supreme Court rejects case". KSL.com. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
  3. ^ Williams, Pete & Connor, Tracy (January 6, 2014). "U.S. Supreme Court puts gay marriage in Utah on hold". Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  4. ^ "Justices Say Utah Doesn't Have to Recognize Gay Marriages". The New York Times. July 18, 2014. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  5. ^ Romboy, Dennis (September 29, 2022). "How strong is support for same-sex marriage in Utah?". Deseret News. Retrieved October 17, 2022.