Madison and Limestone Counties are now issuing marriage licenses to all couples after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling June 26. (Contributed/Madison County Probate Judge’s Office)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

MADISON – Both Madison and Limestone counties are issuing marriage licenses to all couples after a historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling on June 26 that effectively legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states.

The ruling, which came in a 5-4 decision, was handed down roughly five months after U.S. District Court Judge Callie Granade previously ruled on Jan. 23 that the state’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. A state supreme court case in March effectively ordered the state’s 67 probate judges to cease issuing same-sex marriage licenses, which bred uncertainty until the high court’s ruling on June 26.

The Madison County probate judge’s office confirmed on June 30 that it began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples the day of the ruling, while the Limestone County probate judge’s office confirmed that it began issuing licenses to all couples at 10:45 a.m. on June 29 after reading the ruling.

For some in the Huntsville area, including members of Free2Be, a Huntsville LGBTQ Resource Center, the ruling brings affirmation to Judge Granade’s ruling and ends uncertainty to the situation.

“I’m really very pleased with the reaction in Huntsville and in Madison County,” said James Robinson, executive director at Free2Be. “We had no issues at Rocket City Pride.”

Statewide officials, including Gov. Robert Bentley, issued statements on the ruling that they said conflicted with their personal beliefs and Alabama voters.

“I have always believed in the Biblical definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman,” Bentley’s official statement read on June 26. “That definition has been deeply rooted in our society for thousands of years. Regardless of today’s ruling by the Supreme Court, I still believe in a one man and one woman definition of marriage. The people of Alabama also voted to define marriage as between a man and woman. I always respect the people’s vote, and I am disappointed that the Supreme Court has disregarded the choice made by the people of Alabama in its decision today.”

Several Madison churches, including Faith Lutheran Church, held off on official comment regarding the ruling until further direction from their respective leaders in church hierarchies.

“I will say [that] for the most part, we’re a conservative congregation, so nothing has changed,” Faith Lutheran pastor Dr. Gerald Boussard said.

Madison resident Randy Barrett said that for him and his husband, Jim-joseph, the ruling ends some of the uncertainty surrounding their union.

“I’m glad because it takes Alabama out of the loop of any political games that can go on,” Barrett said.

The Barretts, who wed on Jan. 16 in Oklahoma, a week before Granade’s original ruling, said they have felt relatively comfortable in the Madison-Huntsville area.

“It amazes me how fast it’s moved [in the state],” Randy said. “I’ve really been blessed. We’re happy together, and that’s what carries us.”