Justices Clear Gay Marriage in 5 States

The Supreme Court declined to hear legal appeals against same-sex marriage from five states on Monday, legalizing it in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Lower courts had struck down bans on same-sex marriage but their rulings were stayed pending appeal. By declining to hear the appeals, those stays have been lifted. Gay couples in six other states bound by the same rulings (Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming) should be able to get married shortly. Thirty states will now have same-sex marriage. The justices did not comment on their decision and it is not known who voted to deny hearing the cases.