Home Region Seven North Dakota couples sue for marriage equality

Seven North Dakota couples sue for marriage equality

0
Seven North Dakota couples sue for marriage equality

North Dakota

Seven North Dakota same-sex couples filed suit against the state on Friday afternoon asking a judge to strike down the state’s ban on same-sex marriages.

Until Friday, North Dakota was the only state without marriage equality whose ban on same-sex marriage hadn’t been challenged. The seven couples filed the suit with the help of Minneapolis’ Madia Law. Attorney Joshua Newville is representing the clients. Madia and Newville are also representing clients in South Dakota’s lawsuit challenging a same-sex marriage ban.

North Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage was passed by the voters with 73 percent supporting it. It bans same-sex marriage as well as civil unions and domestic partnerships.

Here’s a copy of the complaint filed on Friday:

[gview file=”http://thecolu.mn/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/228483218-3-14-cv-00057-1-Complaint.pdf”]

Previous article MN Methodists urge leadership to stop penalizing LGBT clergy
Next article MN National Guard celebrates Pride month for the first time
Andy Birkey has written for a number of Minnesota and national publications. He founded Eleventh Avenue South which ran from 2002-2011, wrote for the Minnesota Independent from 2006-2011, the American Independent from 2010-2013. His writing has appeared in The Advocate, The Star Tribune, The Huffington Post, Salon, Cagle News Service, Twin Cities Daily Planet, TheUptake, Vita.mn and much more. His writing on LGBT issues, the religious right and social justice has won awards including Best Beat Reporting by the Online News Association, Best Series by the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and an honorable mention by the Sex-Positive Journalism awards.