LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska's one-of-a-kind ban on same-sex marriages was challenged Wednesday in federal court by the American Civil Liberties Union and three other groups.
The lawsuit says the ban, which was approved by voters in 2000 and added to the Nebraska Constitution the next year, violates the rights of gay and lesbian couples.
"No other state constitutionally prohibits state and local government officials from recognizing same-sex relationships in any way, including as domestic partnerships," according to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in Lincoln.
Thirty-four states have so-called "Defense of Marriage" laws, but Nebraska's ban is the only one that bans same-sex couples from enjoying many of the legal protections that heterosexual couples enjoy, the ACLU said.
...
Rev. Colin Mercer | 11/19/2012
