Northwest News Network

Your Guide To The Legal Battle Over Same Sex Marriage In Idaho

Amber and Rachael filed their lawsuit against Idaho in Nov. 2013. They were married Oct. 15, 2014.In November 2013, eight women -- four couples -- sued the state of Idaho over its 2006 voter-approved constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.The plaintiffs, Susan Latta and Traci Ehlers, Lori Watsen and Sharene Watsen, Shelia Robertson and Andrea Altmayer, and Amber Beierle and Rachael Robertson, say Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage violates equal protection and due process guarantees.Two of the couples have been legally married in other states and two have tried to get Idaho marriage licenses and been denied.Their case went to U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale in May 2014. On May 13, eight days after Dale heard the case, she struck down Idaho's same-sex marriage ban.Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden appealed that ruling in an effort to uphold Idaho's Constitution as approved by voters in 2006.On Oct. 7, 2014, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Dale's ruling, striking down Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. After more than a week of legal challenges, same-sex marriages began Oct. 15, 2014 in Idaho.

IRS Ruling Means Gay Idaho Couples Have Financial Incentive For Marrying Across State Lines

Boise State Public Radio News | By Chris Lehman

Published August 29, 2013 at 5:21 PM MDT

County officials who issue marriage licenses in Washington are gearing up for a possible influx of new applicants.

That's after Thursday's ruling by the Internal Revenue Service that gay marriage will be recognized across state lines for federal tax purposes.

The new ruling means for the first time there will be a financial incentive for same-sex couples in Oregon or Idaho to cross over into Washington to get married.

Their marriage will be recognized by the IRS when it comes time to fill out their tax form. Washington doesn't require people getting married to be residents of the state.

But that's small consolation to gay rights groups in states that don't recognize same-sex marriage.

Amy Ruiz is with Oregon United for Marriage. She says gays and lesbians shouldn't have to cross state lines in order to get married.

"It's really unfair to ask people to leave their home in order to marry the person that they love," she says. "Everyone should have the ability to do that right where they live."

Ruiz's group is collecting signatures to try to get a measure on next year's ballot to overturn Oregon's ban on same-sex marriage.

Oregon does offer tax benefits to same-sex couples who enter domestic partnerships. Idaho offers no such status.

IRS Ruling Means Gay Idaho Couples Have Financial Incentive For Marrying Across State Lines

You make stories like this possible.