Oct 11, 2006Articles: US Supreme Court Refuses Gay Marriage Case
By VZ
(Washington, USA) The US Supreme Court turned down an appeal Tuesday by a gay California gay couple who want to marry. It is the first time the issue of same-sex marriage has been offered to the high court. Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer of Mission Viejo, California went to court after they were turned down for a marriage license in 2004. U.S. District Judge Gary Taylor last year ruled against the pair Taylor saying that the California law preventing same-sex marriage "has a disproportionate effect on homosexual individuals," but said the government's desire to promote procreation is a valid reason for infringing on the rights of gays. The couple then appealed to the the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
