Tenn. Couples in Gay Marriage Suit Seek Injunction

Four same-sex couples are asking a federal judge for a preliminary injunction that would force Tennessee to recognize their marriages.

The couples filed a suit in U.S. District Court in Nashville last month challenging Tennessee laws that prohibit recognition of same-sex marriages. They claim in court filings that the laws violate constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

The request for the injunction would apply only to the four couples who are plaintiffs in the lawsuit. If approved, it would be in effect while their case works its way through the courts.

A spokeswoman for the state attorney general's office said in an email that attorneys there are reviewing the filing and are prepared to defend Tennessee law and the state constitution.