Arizona took its place in history as the 31st state in the U.S. to allow the marriage of same-sex couples on Friday morning.
U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick struck down Arizona’s same-sex marriage ban as unconstitutional Friday morning. State Attorney General Tom Horne decided not to appeal the decision.
Almost immediately after Sedwick’s ruling, same-sex couples arrived downtown to the Maricopa County Clerk’s Office and later to City Hall as marriage licenses began being issued.
Tim Pawlak and Jason Bannecker were not the first couple to get married Friday by the judges of the Phoenix Municipal Courts.
“It makes everything legal, it means that we have protection and comfort now,” Bannecker said at the event.
The couple, who just returned to Arizona after being on vacation, joked that they did the honeymoon and the wedding a bit backward.
The couple was surprised by the amount of attention their marriage received. They said they thought they would be latecomers to the whole process because their marriage didn’t take place until almost 1 p.m. in Mayor Greg Stanton’s conference room.
They have been together for more than ten years, and Friday was the day for them to change their legal status. Along with the legal changes, their marriage will provide them with more security in medical situations and everyday life.
The judge who married them, Kevin Kane, was appointed eight years ago by the City Council as the first openly gay man on the bench.
“As judges we have the authority to perform marriages and I’ve been asked to do it on various occasions, and I’ve resisted doing it until everybody can get married,” Kane said. “That day has come today and so this is my first marriage as a judge. I’m pleased and honored to be here.”
He said that personally he and his partner have no current plans for marriage, but he is excited that the opportunity now exists.
Mayor Greg Stanton said he was pleased that Arizona has taken a large step toward equality for all people.
“We are part of history today; this is a historic day in the state of Arizona, a day that has been a long time coming,” he said. “I’ve always been proud to be in Arizona, I’ve always been proud to be a Phoenician, but I’m particularly proud today. A great advancement in civil rights and civil liberties happened here today in the state of Arizona and it’s part of the merge of justice and it’s a great thing.”
Stanton acknowledged that many couples have been waiting years for the opportunity have their relationship recognized by the state as a legal union. He said finally “today is their day.”
Beyond the issue of personal freedom in marriage now, Stanton also pointed out that the legalizing the marriage of same-sex couples is good for Arizona businesses.
“In my opinion today is about civil rights, civil liberties, and it’s good for business because couples won’t have to leave the state of Arizona to get married,” he said. “We can bring couples here to get married in the beautiful state of Arizona.”
Ultimately, Friday’s historic ruling is about more than financial and legal benefits, Stanton said.
“It’s mostly about love,” Stanton said. “Love is love and now that’s the status of the law here in Arizona.”
Contact the reporter at Miranda.Reddy@asu.edu
