A federal judge has ruled once more that gays and lesbians have the right to marry in all Alabama counties, but placed her decision on hold until the U.S Supreme Court issues their ruling on same-sex marriage nationally.
U.S District Judge Callie Granade ruled yesterday saying once again that Alabama's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and ordered all probate judges to stop enforcing that ban. But her order won’t go into effect until a U.S. Supreme Court decision which is expected to be handed down sometime next month.
As soon as the ruling is issued, probate judges in Alabama will be bound to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Granade first struck down Alabama’s same sex marriage ban as unconstitutional in January. Gay couples married for three weeks until the state Supreme Court ordered probate judges to stop issuing licenses.
This latest decision came in a class-action lawsuit from gay couples across the state.
David Dinielli, a deputy legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center, says this ruling is a decisive and definitive victory for same-sex marriage.
Susan Watson, Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama, applauds Granade’s decision for putting a stop to what she describes as the chaos caused by Alabama’s Supreme Court.?
The Memorial Day weekend starts today, marking the unofficial start of summer.
Alabama’s AAA says over thirty seven million Americans will be traveling a distance of fifty miles or more. That’s a five percent increase from last year and a hike over previous years.
Some drivers head to destinations like Alabama’s Gulf coast. Others are going to places like Georgia and Florida. Either way, it means more cars on Alabama roads and highways.
AAA spokesman Clay Ingram says there are several reasons why a record number of Americans are traveling.
“I think the lowered gas prices have a little bit to do with it, and I think just our natural increase in population is a part of it. I think one of the biggest reasons is the economy is slowly improving and people feel a little bit better about spending money on travel and vacation. It’s just kind of the unofficial kickoff to the summer travel season.”
Ingram says the extra traffic load means drivers should plan to leave early and avoid distractions on the road.
The Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start of summer.
It also marks the wrap-up of National Boating Safety week. The event is focused on teaching the public proper safety procedures if you’re on or near the water.
Sergeant Walter Lacey is the Education Supervisor for the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Marine Patrol. He says if anyone needs a safety reminder, they can just look to the storm that killed several boaters near Dauphin Island.
“I do believe that after a tragic event like the Regatta, that boating safety is a little more on everyone’s mind. After having spent the winter in, they’ve kind of forgotten those safe practices that they were using all along.”
Some of those safe practices include wearing lifejackets and avoiding alcohol. The public is invited to showcase their commitment to safety by posting photos wearing life jackets on social media and tagging those shots to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.