Alabama Supreme Court outlaws gay marriage

What happened in Alabama?

The supreme court of Alabama decided that gays can not get married.

Seven judges voted against gay marriage.

"The law says that "Marriage" is between just one man and just one woman." - Alabama Supreme Court Opinion

"This has been the law for about 200 years." - Alabama Supreme Court Opinion

"Nothing in the United States Constitution matters to this law." - Alabama Supreme Court Opinion

One judge, Justice Greg Shaw, disagreed.

One other judge, Chief Justice Roy Moore, abstained. He did not vote.

(Last month, Chief Justice Moore said that gay marriage is still illegal in Alabama.)

What does the federal government say?

The federal district court says that Alabama must let gay people marry.

The U.S. Supreme Court still hasn't decided if states are allowed to say that gays can't marry.

They will decide for the entire country, not just Alabama.

They will decide in June.

While they are deciding, the U.S. Supreme Court says that gay people are allowed to get married in Alabama.

This means that right now, the federal courts and the Alabama courts are saying different things.

Who wants to stop gay marriage in Alabama?

The court case was brought by two groups.

One group was the Alabama Policy Institute.

Another group was the Alabama Citizen Action Program. This group is run by Babtists.

Who wants to allow gay marriage in Alabama?

"The Alabama Supreme Court is on the wrong side of history." - The National Center for Lesbian Rights

"The question is not whether marriage equality will return to Alabama, but how quickly." - The National Cent4er for Lesbian Rights