Policy

Utah Will Not Recognize Same-Sex Marriages During Appeal of Ruling

More than 1,000 gay weddings performed in state since Dec. 20 decision

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Utah Gov. Gary Herbert announced Wednesday that the state will not recognize the 1,000-plus same-sex marriages performed in the state since Dec. 20, when a U.S. district judge ruled that the state's ban on gay marriage violated gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights.

"The original laws governing marriage in Utah return to effect pending final resolution by the courts," the governor's office said in a written statement.

"We're not going to do anything to undo marriages," said Missy Larsen, spokeswoman for Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes. "If they have a driver's license with their marital name on it, it stands. But wherever they were in the process, it's frozen."