Missouri overturns gay marriage ban

A Missouri judge ruled Wednesday that the state’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional, and St. Louis immediately began issuing marriage licenses to such couples.

In the ruling, St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison declared that the measure recognizing marriage as only between a man and a woman violated the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment.

{mosads}Burlison wrote in his ruling: “Any same-sex couple that satisfies all the requirements for marriage under Missouri law, other than being of different sexes, is legally entitled to a marriage license.” 

St. Louis issued marriage licenses to four same-sex couples Wednesday afternoon; Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court.

Gay marriage is now legal in 32 states and the District of Columbia, spurring more states to recognize gay nuptials.

It has become legal in more than a dozen states since the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals of federal rulings overturning bans on same-sex marriage last month.