SALT LAKE CITY—
A U.S. federal judge has ruled to overturn the voter approved ban on Proposition 8 and Utah citizens and organizations are reacting to the decision. The verdict was handed down from Chief Judge Vaughn Walker, one of only two openly gay federal judges. Proposition 8 outlawed gay marriages in California after the State Supreme Court legalized them. An appeal of the ruling is expected.Demonstrations in support and in protest of the ruling are planned for tonight in Salt Lake City.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a supporter of the 2008 California based initiative, issued a statement voicing their disapproval of the ruling. LDS Church spokesman Michael Purdy issued the statement to the media, which says:
"The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regrets today's decision. California voters have twice been given the opportunity to vote on the definition of marriage in their state and both times have determined that marriage should be recognized as only between a man and a woman. We agree. Marriage between a man and woman is the bedrock of society.
"We recognize that this decision represents only the opening of a vigorous debate in the courts over the rights of the people to define and protect this most fundamental institution--marriage.
"There is no doubt that today's ruling will add to the marriage debate in this country and we urge people on all sides of this issue to act in a spirit of mutual respect and civility toward those with a different opinion."
According to the LDS Church Web site, the church issued a report on Jan. 30 that detailed in-kind donations totaling over $189,000 to the ProtectMarriage.com coalition, an organization that supported Prop. 8.
Stay with FOX 13 News and fox13now.com for more developments on the Proposition 8 ruling.
