Federal judge in Alabama orders county to wed gay couples

Mobile, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge in Alabama has ordered Mobile County to start issuing gay marriage licenses.

U.S. District Judge Callie Granade made the ruling after a brief hearing Thursday.

Granade overturned the state's ban on gay marriage last month and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to stop gay marriages from beginning Monday.

Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore issued an 11th hour order telling probate judges in the state they didn't have to hand out licenses, causing confusion. Many probate judges, including the one in Mobile County, refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.

Some judges wouldn't give out licenses to anyone, including heterosexual couples.

Hundreds of gay couples have wed in Alabama this week, the 37th state to allow same-sex marriages.

By Kim Chandler, Associated Press. Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Gayly – February 12, 2015 @ 4:35pm.