It was supposed to be the happiest of all marriage cases.
But the story of Gay Marriage Colorado was going to take a hit.
The Colorado Supreme Court on Monday upheld a lower court’s ruling that denied the state’s application to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, saying the state could not rely on a 2015 amendment to Colorado’s constitution to guarantee that it would not be challenged in the courts.
The court also said that the state should be allowed to start issuing marriage certificates to all eligible couples regardless of their marital status.
A panel of three judges on Monday issued a two-sentence order saying that the Supreme State could proceed with the process of issuing marriage cards to all same-gender couples in the state without a legal challenge.
Colorado Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, who brought the suit against the state in 2014, said Monday that she was “extremely pleased” with the decision.
“Today’s decision sends a powerful message that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and that every Colorado resident should have the freedom to marry the person they love,” Coffman said in a statement.
Colorado has long been one of the few states in the U.S. to allow gay marriage, although gay marriage has been legalized in 17 states. “
It’s been a long journey to get to this point, and we are grateful to the citizens of Colorado for standing with us and for the strength of their support.”
Colorado has long been one of the few states in the U.S. to allow gay marriage, although gay marriage has been legalized in 17 states.
The state was one of just five states to allow same-day marriage between same- gender couples in 2013.
The federal government has also ruled that gay couples should be able to marry.
