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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.

Gay Couples Crowd Clark County, Washington Office For Marriage Licenses

~Prescott
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Clark County's auditor estimated some thirty gay and lesbian couples lined up to get marriage licenses this morning in Vancouver, as Washington's new  same-sex marriages law takes effect.

First in line were Paul Harris and James Griener . Harris manages the department that issues marriage licenses for Clark County, so Auditor Greg Kimsey sent him to the front of the line. 

Griener said when the two met, 39 years ago, they never thought they might be able to marry some day. "We never even considered it. I was talking to Paul as we were driving in this morning, as I was getting through college, my parents started asking me, 'When are you going to get married?' Ah. My mother's no longer with us, but I wish she could be here today." 

Griener says while he and Harris didn't campaign for the new law, they both felt it was important to get married. He says he hopes the federal government will recognize gay marriage soon.

Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network

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