Two months ago, a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati heard oral arguments on four cases from four states, including Ohio. The cases involve the recognition of same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, couples rights to have their spouse listed on birth and death certificates and statewide bans. The court has yet to render a decision, which would apply to Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s action on Monday doesn’t directly impact Ohio.
“Obviously, we’re very happy for a lot of our neighboring states,” said Ian James on Monday. He is co-founder of Freedom to Marry Ohio, which is heading up a petition drive to put the gay marriage question on the statewide ballot.
James said the action Monday by the high court makes same-sex marriage effectively legal in 30 states where roughly 60 percent of Americans reside. He added: “But geography shouldn’t determine your civil rights.”
An independent poll from Quinnipiac University released in May found half of Ohio voters favor allowing same sex couples to wed while 43 percent oppose it. Seventy-two percent of younger voters — those 18- to 34-years-old — favor legalizing same sex marriage while 24 percent oppose it. A majority of women voters — 56 percent — support gay marriage, the poll found.
Attempts to reach Phil Burress, head of Cincinnati-based Citizens for Community Values, were not successful Monday. But he told The Columbus Dispatch, “Our position is that this is not going to be settled until the U.S. Supreme Court hears a case.”
In 2004, CCV led the campaign to amend Ohio’s constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman and prohibit government jurisdictions from recognizing any unions that approximate marriage. The amendment passed 62 percent to 38 percent.
“It’s important to note that just because they denied (the request to hear the cases) does not mean they agree,” Burress told the Dispatch.
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