US court allows gay marriages to continue in Utah, refusing to grant state’s request for stay

SALT LAKE CITY – A federal appeals court has rejected the Utah state government’s request to stop gay marriages in the Mormon-dominated state.

Utah had wanted a hold on same-sex marriages while it appeals a judge’s ruling overturning the state’s ban on gay weddings.

The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling late Tuesday means county clerks can continue to issue marriage licenses to gays and lesbians. Nearly 700 gay couples have obtained marriage licenses since Friday.

The judge’s decision to strike down a law passed by voters in 2004 drew attention given Utah’s long-standing opposition to gay marriage and its position as headquarters for the Mormon church.

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