Mobile County Probate Judge Denies Marriage Licenses to Same-Sex Couples

Despite a federal order, Mobile County Probate Judge Don Davis is denying same-sex couples the opportunity to obtain a certificate of marriage.

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) is America’s largest organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. A press release issued today from the HRC states,

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Callie V.S. Granade again refused to issue a stay in her ruling which struck down Alabama’s discriminatory constitutional amendment, banning same-sex couples from marrying. Earlier this year, Judge Granade ruled in favor of equality in Searcy v. Strange, opening the door to marriage equality across the state.

Since the January ruling by Judge Granade, Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore has campaigned vocally against marriage equality. Last month, HRC Alabama submitted 28,000 petitions to the Judicial Inquiry Commission, urging a full ethics investigation of the Chief Justice.

HRC Alabama is working to advance equality for LGBT Alabamians who have no state or municipal level protections in housing, workplace, or public accommodations; legal state recognition for their relationships and families; and state protections from hate crimes. Through HRC Alabama, we are working toward a future of fairness every day—changing hearts, minds and laws toward achieving full equality.

Judge Granade stated in a five-page order that Judge Davis must comply with her ruling, which found the state's gay marriage ban to be unconstitutional.

HRC Alabama State Director R. Ashley Jackson also said,

Judge Granade has made it clear once again that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry the person they love. Anti-LGBT activists have led a crusade to create unnecessary chaos, and time after time, the federal court has instructed probate judges to follow the law. It is time for the confusion to end and acknowledge the dignity and worth of LGBT Alabamians.