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Eye On Boise

Plaintiffs celebrate as 9th Circuit strikes down Idaho’s ban on gay marriage

Gay marriage defendants, from right, Amber Beierle, Rachael Beierle, Lori Watsen, Sharene Watsen, Traci Ehlers, and Sue Latta address media outside of the James A McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in Boise, Idaho. A federal appeals court declared gay marriage legal in Idaho and Nevada on Tuesday, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage in 30 other states. The couples sued the state over Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. (AP/Idaho Statesman / Kyle Green)
Gay marriage defendants, from right, Amber Beierle, Rachael Beierle, Lori Watsen, Sharene Watsen, Traci Ehlers, and Sue Latta address media outside of the James A McClure Federal Building and United States Courthouse Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2014, in Boise, Idaho. A federal appeals court declared gay marriage legal in Idaho and Nevada on Tuesday, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage in 30 other states. The couples sued the state over Idaho's ban on same-sex marriage. (AP/Idaho Statesman / Kyle Green)

Gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Idaho, three of the couples who successfully sued to overturn Idaho’s ban on same-sex marriage, along with their attorneys, were celebrating this afternoon. “I’m ecstatic,” said Amber Beierle. “I’m grateful to be a part of this process.”

Sharene Watsen, who stood with her wife, Lori said, “Hopefully our son will grow up in a time where he doesn’t even know this was an issue.” Said Lori Watsen: “The momentum is really shifting.”

Sue Latta, the lead plaintiff, was asked if she ever thought she’d see this day come in Idaho. “If you’d asked me that two years ago, I would’ve said no,” she said, “but as of six months ago, I was certain that it would.”



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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