News
Will Utah same-sex marriages be deemed invalid?
Advocates urge state to honor weddings already held
Michael Ferguson and Seth Anderson were among the gay couples that married in Utah before the stay was put in place. (File photo courtesy Seth Anderson)
The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to halt same-sex marriages in Utah is raising questions about whether gay marriages already conducted in the state will be considered valid.
Doug NeJaime, a law professor at University of California, Irvine, predicted the issue may lead to its own litigation outside of the pending lawsuit, Kitchen v. Herbert, that enabled the same-sex marriages in the first place.
“I’m guessing that question will spawn its own litigation,” NeJaime said. “Clearly, Utah does not want to recognize those couples as married.”
On Monday, the Supreme Court issued a stay on same-sex marriages in Utah in the wake of U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby’s decision on Dec. 20 instituting marriage equality in the state. State officials — Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Attorney General Sean Reyes — last week requested a stay from the high court on the basis that the marriages were an “affront” to the democratic process.
Now that the stay is in place, the attorney general’s office itself has expressed uncertainty about whether the marriages performed in the state will be considered valid. In a statement, Reyes cited a lack of precedent on the issue.
“This is the uncertainty that we were trying to avoid by asking the District court for a stay immediately after its decision,” Reyes said. “It is very unfortunate that so many Utah citizens have been put into this legal limbo. Utah’s Office of Attorney General is carefully evaluating the legal status of the marriages that were performed since the District Court’s decision and will not rush to a decision that impacts Utah citizens so personally.”
Although Reyes maintains he won’t rush into a decision, pressure will be on the state to decide soon. Now that 2014 has begun, gay couples that recently married in Utah will be filing their taxes and will need to know whether they qualify as married or single.
One common prediction is the marriages will be deemed invalid similar to how the California Supreme Court invalidated the marriages then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom allowed with the state’s ban on same-sex marriage in place. But the situations are different. The marriages at that time were happening as a result of executive action, not a court order.
The American Civil Liberties Union, which was responsible for the lawsuit bringing down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act, took to Twitter to encourage Utah to uphold the marriages as valid.
Though future marriages for gay couples are on hold in UT the state should consider those marriages that have already taken place as valid
— ACLU National (@ACLU) January 6, 2014
A possible scenario is that Utah itself won’t recognize the same-sex marriages performed in the state, but the federal government would deem those unions valid for federal benefits. Under that scenario, these couples would be considered married for tax purposes as well as for health and pension benefits if either person in the marriage works for the U.S. military or federal government.
A White House spokesperson deferred to the Justice Department on whether the federal government would recognize these marriages as valid. Dena Iverson, a Justice Department spokesperson, said, “We are reviewing the court’s decision.”
Shannon Minter, legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said it’s possible Utah may not recognize same-sex marriages pending appeal of the case, but maintained the federal government should accept the unions as legitimate.
“The federal government should recognize them for most purposes because federal recognition for almost all federal benefits hinges only on whether a marriage was valid when entered,” Minter said.
The final number of same-sex marriages performed in Utah before the Supreme Court put in place its stay isn’t yet known. According to a Dec. 27 report in the Associated Press, Utah issued 900 marriage licenses to gay couples in the week after a federal judge struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Suzanne Goldberg, co-director for Columbia University’s Center for Gender & Sexuality Law, insisted that these marriages should be considered valid even with the stay in place.
“It is unlikely that the marriages already performed in Utah will be invalidated,” Goldberg said. “Those marriages were performed in accordance with Utah law and a later change in the law, if there is one, should not undo them.”
Hungary
New Hungarian prime minister takes office
Péter Magyar’s party defeated anti-LGBTQ Viktor Orbán last month
Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar took office on Saturday.
Magyar’s center-right Tisza party on April 12 defeated then-Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz-KDNP coalition. Vice President JD Vance less than a week before the election traveled to Budapest, the Hungarian capital, and urged Hungarians to support Orbán.
Orbán had been in office since 2010. He and his government faced widespread criticism over its anti-LGBTQ crackdown.
The European Commission in 2022 sued Hungary, which is a member of the EU, over the country’s anti-LGBTQ propaganda law. The European Union’s top court, the EU Court of Justice, on April 21 struck down the statute.
The EU while Orbán was office withheld upwards of €35 billion ($41.26) in funds to Hungary in response to concerns over corruption, rule of law, and other issues.
Hungarian lawmakers in March 2025 passed a bill that banned Pride events and allowed authorities to use facial recognition technology to identify those who participate in them. MPs later amended the Hungarian constitution to ban public LGBTQ events.
Upwards of 100,000 people last June defied the ban and marched in Budapest’s annual Pride parade.
“Congratulations to [Péter Magyar] on becoming prime minister of Hungary,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on X.
“This Europe Day, our hearts are in Budapest,” she added. “The hope and promise of renewal is a powerful signal in these challenging times.”
“We have important work ahead of us,” noted von der Leyen. “For Hungary and for Europe, we are moving forward together.”
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Congratulations to Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-Del.) on being honored with this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health. Amy Nelson, senior director of Legal Services, said, “Congresswoman Sarah McBride is working to make healthcare accessible to all, and this award recognizes her support of healthcare as a human right. Our legal program supports families facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and safe – families that Congresswoman McBride champions with a deep understanding of the issues they face and the legislative expertise of how to support them.”
McBride, in a press release, said, “I am honored to accept this year’s Stonewall Award from Whitman-Walker Health — an organization that has spent 40 years doing vital work to ensure every person can access the dignity of care. In the wealthiest and most developed nation on earth, the ability to receive care should not be a matter of luck—it should be the law of the land. I am proud to be recognized as a partner in this work and to support Whitman-Walker Health in their mission to build a healthier society for all.”
Congratulations also to Wes Drummond who will join Clear Space Theatre Company in Rehoboth Beach, Del., as its third artistic director. Managing Director Joe Gfaller said, “This is an exciting moment of growth for Clear Space as we welcome Wes to join our remarkable team. I am confident he will be an excellent partner as we work with our entire staff, board, and committed team of volunteers, to ensure Clear Space can achieve its full potential in pursuit of our mission to unite and enrich our community through every production on stage, and every arts-based learning program we offer throughout our community.”
On accepting the position Drummond said, “I’m honored to join Clear Space Theatre Company as artistic director, and beyond excited for what we’re about to create together. Clear Space has established itself as a vital and vibrant part of the cultural life of coastal Delaware, and I feel incredibly fortunate to step into this next chapter alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. Rehoboth Beach is a place defined by creativity and community, and I look forward to listening, learning, and building meaningful relationships across the region in the months ahead. My vision is to help Clear Space continue to grow as a bold, forward-thinking, cultural force, that champions fearless storytelling.”

Drummond served in leadership roles at Duluth Playhouse in Duluth, Minn., from 2021 to 2026, including four years as executive director followed by one year as executive producing artistic director, guiding the organization through a period of significant transformation and stability in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a director, he has worked extensively in New York City, Chicago, and at regional theaters across the country, directing both musical theater and plays with a focus on storytelling that bridges classical works with contemporary perspectives. He has collaborated with leading figures in the industry, including Tony Award-winning director Matthew Warchus, and Tony-nominated director Michael Greif. He is an associate member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society.
Wes earned his MFA in directing, Penn State University, where he studied under Tony-nominated director, Susan H. Schulman.
Virginia
Va. Supreme Court invalidates Democrat-backed redistricting plan
Voters narrowly approved new congressional districts last month
The Virginia Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Democrat-backed redistricting plan that voters approved last month.
Ten of 11 of Virginia’s congressional districts favor Democrats in the plan that passed by a 51-48 vote margin in last month’s referendum.
The Human Rights Campaign PAC is among the groups that support it. The court by a 4-3 majority invalidated the referendum results.
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