Australia Court: No Gay Marriage

Australia’s supreme court on Thursday struck down a law that had allowed gay marriages to begin in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), meaning that dozens of couples will have their marriage annulled weeks after their wedding. The High Court ruled that the landmark law conflicted with 2004 amendments to Australia’s Marriage Act that defined marriage as between a man and woman and, in the court’s words, is “a comprehensive and exhaustive statement of the law of marriage.” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott opposes same-sex marriage, and his party has blocked a number of bills that would legalize it.