In late December 2013 a federal judge ruled Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional making it possible for hundreds of gay couples to legally wed in one of the most conservative states in the country. Over 1,300 marriage licenses were issued before the U.S. Supreme Court granted a stay while the 10 th Circuit Court of Appeals hears the case.
Utah’s ruling was the first and many other states have followed suit after the Supreme Court made it’s controversial ruling striking down the Defense of Marriage Act. In October of 2014 the the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals in each of the states where bans on same-sex marriage were overturned. Currently same-sex marriage is legal in 37 states but many couples are waiting for a formal Supreme Court ruling which will likely come this year.
Photos shot while on assignment for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press.
Natalie Dicou, left, and Nichole Christensen, right, wait in line to obtain a marriage license at the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City after a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.
Samantha Christensen, left, and Elise Larsen, right, apply for a marriage license in the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City after a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.
Chris Serrano, left, and Clifton Webb, right, embrace after being married as people wait in line to get licenses outside of the marriage division of the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City after a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.
Mimi Flower, left, and Julie Kay, right, kiss while Flower's fills out an application for a marriage license while waiting in a long line outside of the marriage division of the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City after a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.
Gregory Enke, middle left, and Ariel Ulloa, middle right, celebrate after being married at the Salt Lake County Clerk's office after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals after bans on same-sex marriage were overturned in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Ruth Hackford-Peer, right, and Kim Hackford-Peer, top middle, are married by Rev. Curtis Price, left, while hugging their two children Riley Hackford-Peer, back middle, and Casey Hackford-Peer, bottom middle, in the lobby of the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City after a federal judge ruled that Utah's ban on same sex marriage is unconstitutional.
Steven Dunn, middle right, and Gabe Urzua, middle left, walk out of the Utah State Capitol after a rally to support same-sex marriage. Hundreds of rally participants gathered to show support for a federal judge's ruling that Utah's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional
Hundreds cheer during a rally to support same-sex marriage at the Utah State Capitol rotunda.
Brandon Jarvis, middle left, embraces his boyfriend Chris Lemon, middle right, during a rally to support same-sex marriage at the Utah State Capitol rotunda.
Melissa Vigil, left, embraces her wife Cidney Marsh and their son Koston Vigil during a rally in Library Square as Utahns celebrate today's Supreme Court decision to refuse to hear appeals from the states who bans on same-sex marriage were overturned.
Yolanda Pascua, left, and Laekin Rogers, right, embrace after being married at the Salt Lake County Clerk's office after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals after bans on same-sex marriage were overturned.