Court Rules Against Lambda Legal in Nevada Marriage Case

A federal district today ruled against a challenge to Nevada's law banning marriage for same-sex couples that Lambda Legal brought on behalf of eight Nevada couples.

Lambda Legal Staff Attorney Tara Borelli says:

This is not the end of this fight. We will appeal and continue to fight for these loving couples, who are harmed by Nevada's law barring marriage for same-sex couples.  By forbidding same-sex couples' access to marriage, the state brands them and their children as second-class citizens.

This entire decision rests on the ridiculous premise that a "meaningful percentage of heterosexual persons" will decide not to get married if same-sex couples can. Not only is this not true, but it is settled law that the government is not allowed to cater to private biases—which is all that imagining that "some couples won't join this club if those people are admitted" amounts to. We are confident this ruling will be overturned on appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Earlier: Meet the Couples in Our Nevada Lawsuit for Marriage Equality

Learn more about the case, Sevcik v. Sandoval.