Marriage bureau in Las Vegas preps for gay marriages

By Ken Ritter, Associated Press

Published Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014 | 11:10 p.m.

Updated Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014 | 8:45 a.m.

UPDATE: The issuance of marriage licenses for same-sex couples is on hold due to an order Wednesday morning from the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Marriage License Bureau had planned on issuing licenses to same-sex couples starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday. It was unclear when the county would be able to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, officials said.

Gay rights groups celebrated Tuesday and Clark County clerks began making plans to for a burst of marriage applications after the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Nevada's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage.

The county-run marriage license bureau in Las Vegas set a 2 p.m. Wednesday time to begin accepting marriage-license applications from gay and lesbian couples — just 24 hours after a 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Nevada's ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional.

Gov. Brian Sandoval and state Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto issued a joint statement late Tuesday saying the state will take no further action.

"Same sex marriage is now law in Nevada," the statement said.

LEAD PLAINTIFFS REACT

The lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit that overturned the ban issued a statement saying they were elated by the 9th Circuit ruling.

"We are just so delighted that finally, after 43 years together, we will soon be able to get married," Beverly Sevcik said in a statement issued through Lambda Legal, the advocacy group that fought the case.

The Nevada lawsuit, Sevcik v. Sandoval, was filed in April 2012 on behalf of eight Nevada couples. It said the 2002 state constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution by denying same-sex couples in Nevada the same rights, dignity and security that other married couples enjoy.

Sevcik's partner, Mary Baranovich, said they looked forward to a ceremony with family and friends in Carson City.

"When Bev and I met, I must admit we never thought this day would come," Baranovich said. "But now it's here, and how sweet it is."

MARRIAGE BUREAUS PREPARE

Diana Alba, the Clark County clerk, had already prepared gender-neutral marriage license applications, licenses and certificates ahead of the ruling, county spokesman Erik Pappa said.

Washoe County Clerk Nancy Parent in Reno said her office also had gender-neutral paperwork prepared.

The actions come with a judge in Nevada expected yet to issue a final order invalidating a 2002 constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Alba and Parent said they were conferring with other county clerks and district attorneys following Tuesday's landmark ruling in the federal lawsuit, Sevcik v. Sandoval. "We're trying to have all the county clerks on the same page," Alba said.

NEVADA STEPS ASIDE

"Our offices have received several inquiries regarding whether the State will seek reconsideration, rehearing, or a stay," the Republican governor and Democratic attorney general said in their statement. They said it will not.

Sandoval said the ruling in San Francisco confirmed his determination following an appeals court's ruling in another case in February that the state had a way to defend its voter-approved 2002 state constitutional ban on gay marriage.

Masto noted that the parties still had 14 days to seek reconsideration or to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.

OFFICIAL REACTION

U.S. Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said the ruling "puts us on the side of equality and the right side of history."

"No longer will gay and lesbian Nevadans be told that their committed relationships are less than those of straight couples," Reid said in a statement that called for extending similar rights to states that prohibit same-sex marriage. "We have much work to do to achieve this goal," he said.

Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., lauded the decision and predicted gay marriage soon would be allowed across the country. "This decision, along with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to decline hearing similar appeals, reaffirms the belief of so many Americans that love is love," Horsford said.

OTHER PLAINTIFFS REJOICE

Tara Newberry, a Las Vegas lawyer and plaintiff in the case, called the ruling "the exact right result."

"It sure makes explaining things to Evan a little easier when he asks, 'Mom, are you married?' " she said.

Newberry married her partner, Adele Terranova, in California in 2008, and said it was difficult to explain to their 4-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter that they were married in one place but not another.

Newberry said they might not have another ceremony in Nevada because the appellate court order provides a legal underpinning to their marriage. "It's validation that our family is the same as everyone else's," she said.

Greg Flamer said he and Fletcher Whitwell, partners for more than 16 years, planned to marry as soon as they can. They're raising a 3-year-old daughter and toddler son in Las Vegas.

"I feel like we've joined the rest of society," Flamer said Tuesday. "Now our kids are going to have parents who are married. That means a lot to us."

WEDDING BOOM?

In Clark County, where more than 80,000 marriage licenses were issued last year, chapels and other wedding businesses braced for a boom.

"It's just been a crazy day for us," said Brian Mills, general manager of Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapels, which is gay-owned and operated.

Mills said the chapel holds about 500 same-sex commitment ceremonies annually, and October is the busiest month for weddings overall, including some with Dracula or Grim Reaper themes.

Washoe County issued 37,000 marriage licenses during the peak year of 1978 and only 8,800 last year. Officials there hoped the new law would give the wedding business a much-needed bump.

"I know that our wedding business has really suffered," Parent said. "We hope that this will bring a lot of business that I know they'd be tickled to have."

Associated Press writers Kim Pierceall and Michelle Rindels contributed to this report.