News (USA)

Bill would take Alabama out of marriage license business

Bill would take Alabama out of marriage license business

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama House committee has approved a bill that would replace state-signed marriage licenses with contracts in a bid to free probate judges from signing licenses for gay couples.

The House Judiciary committee voted Wednesday for the bill, which passed the Senate in March.

Republican Sen. Greg Albritton’s bill would require couples to file a form to record their marriages.

Following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized same-sex marriage, some probate judges in the state refused to issue marriage licenses altogether rather than give them to gay couples.

Albritton says the bill brings Alabama law into compliance with the Supreme Court ruling. Current law states judges “may” issue licenses, while Albritton’s bill says judges “shall” record the marriage contracts.

A similar bill failed last year.

© 2016, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Principal backs students after brawl with Westboro protesters

Previous article

This redneck just destroyed the transgender bathroom hysteria

Next article