Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza has ruled the 2004 voter-approved same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional.
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The first marriage licenses ever issued in the state of Arkansas were handed over to Fort Smith couple Krstin Seaton and Jennifer Rambo this morning, effectively
squashing the state’s decade-old constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.
According to an AP report boldly proclaiming that “gay marriage [has] arrived in the Bible Belt,” the couple had traveled overnight to celebrate the occasion before opponents have the chance to file an appeal.
“Thank god,” Rambo reportedly said after leaving the Carroll County Deputy Clerk’s office, marriage license in hand. The couple were wed on the sidewalk near the county courthouse moments later.
The ceremony was made possible after Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza declared the 2004 voter-approved ban to be unconstitutional, claiming the law “attempted to narrow the definition of equality.”
State Attorney General Dustin McDaniel reportedly claimed he would appeal the ruling, though at time of posting midday Saturday, no such appeal had been filed.
Congrats to Seaton, Rambo, and the hundreds of other couples who were hitched this morning!
By Matthew Tharrett
This post originally appeared at Queerty. Reprinted with permission.
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Feature photo: Jacques Brinon/AP
Photos: Grav Weldon/Instagram