Guam Becomes First U.S. Territory To Grant Same-Sex Marriage Licenses
HAGATNA, Guam (CBS / AP) — Guam is becoming the first U.S. territory to allow gay marriage after Guam's attorney general directed officials to immediately begin processing same-sex-marriage applications.
Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson issued her order to the territory's Department of Public Health and Social Services on Wednesday.
Her instructions come two days after a lesbian couple filed a legal challenge to the territory's marriage laws after they were barred from submitting an application for a license to wed.
Barrett-Anderson cited a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision as the basis for her directive. The appeals court in October found state bans on gay marriage were unconstitutional.
Barrett-Anderson says the department should treat "all same gender marriage applicants with dignity and equality under the Constitution."
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