US Supreme Court Puts Hold on Virginia Gay Marriages

News Release : Aug 21, 2014
Family Research Council

"Despite court rulings in favor of same-sex marriage, we remain optimistic that other Circuits will rule in favor of the right of states to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The consequences of redefining marriage are immeasurable. All Americans should hope, but, more importantly, fervently pray that the United States Supreme Court upholds the rule of law and allows voter-backed marriage amendments to stand." -Chris Gacek, Family Research Council

(Washington, DC)—Yesterday, August 20, the United States Supreme Court issued a stay or hold of the July 2014 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in McQuigg v. Bostic which struck down Virginia's one man one woman definition of marriage. The stay means for the time being, same-sex marriage licenses in Virginia will not be issued.

Family Research Council Senior Fellow Chris Gacek released the following statement:

"The Fourth Circuit erred when it struck down the decision of the people of Virginia to define marriage as it has been understood for ages: as being between one man and one woman. Today, the Supreme Court put a hold on the Fourth Circuit ruling, allowing Virginia's law to continue to be enforced while the Fourth Circuit's opinion is appealed.

"We are glad that the Court saw the wisdom of slowing down the judicial process in this instance so that marriages will not be entered into that would later have to be nullified. Such irresponsible mayhem has been witnessed in Utah, and it resulted in legal chaos for state residents and state officials.

"Despite court rulings in favor of same-sex marriage, we remain optimistic that other Circuits will rule in favor of the right of states to define marriage as between one man and one woman. The consequences of redefining marriage are immeasurable. All Americans should hope, but, more importantly, fervently pray that the United States Supreme Court upholds the rule of law and allows voter-backed marriage amendments to stand," concluded Gacek.