January 9, 2014
Group Seeks Fed Recognition for Utah Gay Marriages
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The nation's largest gay rights group is asking the federal government to recognize same-sex couples that married in Utah before the Supreme Court put these unions in the state on hold.
The court's decision has created confusion for more than 1,000 couples. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the Human Rights Campaign asks Attorney General Eric Holder to allow those couples to receive federal benefits.
The letter came one day after Utah Gov. Gary Herbert instructed state agencies to hold off on processing any new benefits for the newly-married couples. Agencies are not supposed to revoke any benefits that have already been issued.
A Supreme Court decision last year extended many federal benefits to married same-sex couples.
