Politics & Government

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.

Eugene Same-Sex Couple Gets Permission To Be Buried Together At A National Cemetery

Boise State Public Radio News | By Angela Kellner

Published February 15, 2013 at 2:29 PM MST

A same-sex couple from Eugene has received the first-ever waiver to be buried together at a national cemetery. It comes after the death of one of the women.

Same-sex marriage and domestic partnerships are not recognized by the federal government, so a spouse of these military veterans can’t be buried at a national cemetery. After a 12-year battle with cancer Nancy Lynchild of Eugene died December 22nd. She was 64.

Her wife is Lieutenant Colonel Linda Campbell. “I’ll always remember how important it was to my dad and to our family when my mom’s ashes were buried up at Willamette National Cemetery. It was such a beautiful tribute and I wanted this for Nancy and me too and I knew it wasn’t available to us.”

After months of lobbying from Oregon’s Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, the Department of Veterans Affairs decided to allow Lynchild’s ashes to be buried at Willamette National Cemetery. Lynchild and Campbell were legally married in Canada and were domestic partners in Oregon. Campbell had a 25-year military career. Lynchild had worked for the Housing and Community Services Agency of Lane County.

Eugene Same-Sex Couple Gets Permission To Be Buried Together At A National Cemetery

You make stories like this possible.