SPLC Client Responds to Court Action Clearing Path to Same-Sex Marriage in Alabama
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today refused to stay last week’s federal court order striking down Alabama’s law banning same-sex marriage.
It’s good news for SPLC client Paul Hard.
On Monday, when the order goes into effect, he’ll be seeking a corrected death certificate for his late husband, David Fancher. Alabama law previously prohibited the state from recognizing their marriage.
“I am overjoyed that within a matter of days - unless the U.S. Supreme Court steps in - same-sex couples in Alabama will be afforded the dignity and respect all married couples in the state deserve,” Hard said. “I want to congratulate Cari Searcy and Kim McKeand for taking a stand by filing the lawsuit that could finally bring marriage equality to Alabama.
“If the stay is lifted Monday, I will finally have the opportunity to correct an indignity the state inflicted on me when my husband died. I will be at the Alabama Department of Public Health to request a corrected death certificate for my late husband, David Fancher. I hope that after Monday his death certificate will no longer include the demeaning words ‘NEVER MARRIED.’ Instead, I hope it will show that he was, indeed, my loving husband.”
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