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Federal Judge Rules Indiana's Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

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A federal judge Wednesday struck down Indiana’s ban on same sex marriage, saying marrying the person you love, regardless of gender, is a fundamental right.

In his ruling, Judge Richard Young says he’s never seen a “phenomenon” throughout the federal court system like the recent cases regarding same-sex marriage. 

Lambda Legal, the gay rights organization that represents the couples challenging Indiana’s ban, says there have been 19 federal rulings in same-sex marriage suits in the last year – and all 19 have gone in favor of same-sex couples. 

Young says, when gender and sexual orientation are taken away, same-sex couples are no different than any other…and that, in time, Americans will refer to it simply as marriage, and not same-sex marriage. 

His ruling orders the state to immediately recognize otherwise valid marriages between same-sex couples. 

In a statement, Attorney General Greg Zoeller’s office says it will quickly ask for a stay of the ruling, pending appeal.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.