A judge has ordered officials in the conservative US state of Kentucky to immediately recognise same-sex marriages performed in other states and countries, the latest court victory for gay rights supporters in the US
The Kentucky decision Thursday follows a federal judge's declaration on Wednesday that a same-sex marriage ban in deeply conservative Texas is unconstitutional and similar decisions recently in Utah, Oklahoma and Virginia.
The Kentucky ruling only requires the state to recognise the marriages of gay and lesbian couples performed in other states or countries. It does not deal with whether the state can be required to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples.
The ruling didn't affect a related lawsuit seeking to force the state to issue marriage licences to same-sex couples, which will be decided later this year. Nevertheless, it drew the anger of religious leaders who said the decision takes away Kentucky's right to determine its policies regarding marriage.
Dawn Elliott, a lawyer for a Kentucky couple pursuing recognition of a marriage performed in Canada, praised the ruling.
"It's a great day to be from the Commonwealth of Kentucky," Elliott said. "
Allison Martin, a spokeswoman for Kentucky Attorney-General Jack Conway, said the office was reviewing the ruling.
