Federal Judge Affirms the Freedom to Marry in Montana

New York - November 19, 2014 – Today U.S. District Judge Brian Morris ruled in favor of the freedom to marry and respect for same-sex couples' marriages in Montana.

Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry, released the following statement:

"Montana's same-sex couples and their loved ones want what all families want: joy, protections, security, and respect – and that's what the freedom to marry is all about. This ruling, in keeping with nearly every other court that has ruled in more than a year, brings us to 35 states with the freedom to marry -- but we are not done until we end marriage discrimination in all 50 states. It's time for the Supreme Court to affirm the freedom to marry nationwide and bring our country to national resolution for all loving and committed couples in every state."

Today's ruling follows a favorable marriage ruling by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in cases out of Idaho and Nevada. The circuit court holds jurisdiction over Montana, as well as Alaska and Arizona, which also have the freedom to marry.

In total, more than 50 federal and state courts in the past year have ruled in favor of the freedom to marry for same-sex couples.

Freedom to Marry is the campaign to win marriage nationwide. We are pursuing our Roadmap to Victory by working to win the freedom to marry in more states, grow the national majority for marriage, and end federal marriage discrimination. We partner with individuals and organizations across the country to end the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage and the protections, responsibilities, and commitment that marriage brings.