Second appeals court strikes down gay-marriage ban

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, based in Richmond, Virginia, said the state’s laws “impermissibly infringe on its citizens’ fundamental right to marry.”

The three-judge panel voted 2-1 to strike down the ban.

“We recognize that same-sex marriage makes some people deeply uncomfortable. However, inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws. Civil marriage is one of the cornerstones of our way of life. It allows individuals to celebrate and publicly declare their intentions to form lifelong partnerships, which provide unparalleled intimacy, companionship, emotional support, and security.