A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down gay marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho, saying those bans violate same-sex couples' equal protection rights. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in its ruling that laws that treat people differently based on sexual orientation are unconstitutional unless there is a compelling government interest.
Neither state offered any legitimate reasons to discriminate against same-sex couples, Judge Stephen Reinhardt wrote for the unanimous three-judge panel. He said preventing the marriages imposes legal, financial, social and psychic harm on those wanting to be married. He rejected the argument that same-sex marriages devalue traditional marriage, leading to more out-of-wedlock births.
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