Stay on Marriages in Florida to Expire at Midnight

Suze Orman, Evan Wolfson Congratulate First Married Couples

New York - January 5, 2015 – At midnight tonight, a federal district court ruling in favor of the freedom to marry takes effect in Florida, allowing committed same-sex couples to marry throughout the state. The ruling takes effect after the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to extend a stay that was put in place last year. Miami-Dade County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples earlier today, a result of a judge's order in a separate case. The 11th Circuit has yet to schedule a date to hear appellate arguments.

"Today joyous gay couples began marrying in Florida, and tomorrow will be marrying all across the state -- the nation's third largest state and the largest in the South where gay couples can now share in the freedom to marry -- even as the 11th Circuit prepares to hear argument in challenges to Florida's discriminatory ban," said Evan Wolfson, president of Freedom to Marry. "The Supreme Court sent an unmistakable signal when it declined to prolong the stay and opened the door to couples marrying, but we are not done until marriage discrimination is finally ended in the 11th Circuit and nationwide. It's time for the Supreme Court to affirm the freedom to marry and bring our country to national resolution for all loving and committed couples in every state."

Suze Orman, honorary chair of Freedom to Marry's National Campaign Council, released the following statement:

"I am moved to tears seeing couples finally able to marry here in my home state of Florida, thrilled that they will share in the security and protections marriage brings alongside the celebration of love and commitment. I congratulate everyone who worked for this day, but know that our work is not finished until we have secured the freedom to marry for once and for all throughout the entire country. It's time for the Supreme Court to bring an end to marriage discrimination nationwide, so that no family and no state is left behind."

According to the Public Religion Research Institute, a majority of Floridian voters (57%) support the freedom to marry.

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.