UPDATED: Emmy-winning journalist among St. George same-sex marriage license applicants

UPDATE: The State of Utah’s motion to stay the recent ruling regarding same-sex marriage until the appeals process is completed has been denied by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby. Shelby said the arguments made to stay the decision were the same rehashed arguments he had thrown out previously. State attorneys are expected to appeal to a higher court for a stay of the ruling.

Emmy-winning journalist Reed Cowan, left, with his partner, Greg Abplanalp, their twin sons Asher and Kai, their daughter Rion, and local LGBT activist Linda Stay.

This morning, dozens of gay couples lined up at the Washington County Clerk’s Office to obtain marriage licenses. Among those waiting to receive their licenses was Emmy Award-winning journalist Reed Cowan, producer and director of “8: The Mormon Proposition,” a documentary that centered around local LGBT activist Linda Stay and her family. Originally from Roosevelt, Utah, Cowan travelled from Las Vegas today with his partner and adopted children, two sons and a daughter, to be included among the first same-sex couples to get married in Utah.

“I think it’s amazing. For a kid growing up in a small Utah town I never thought I’d see this day,” said Cowan’s partner, Greg Abplanalp. “Great to see everyone getting the same rights to healthcare, insurance, Social Security, etc.”

Stay, who is ordained to perform marriage ceremonies, married the two onsite in the clerk’s office.

Protesters display signs in support of gay marriage at the corner of St. George Boulevard and 200 East in St. George on Dec. 23.

Also among those lined up at the clerk’s office today were Marty Pendry and Brian Struthers, of St. George, who were the first gay couple to be married in St. George (see related story). Pendry and Struthers were allowed to turn in their signed and completed marriage license first, and though the clerk’s office did not officially open until 8 a.m. this morning, their license was approved at around 7:58 a.m. amid cheers from the onlookers. Joe Pitti, chairman of Springdale’s planning commission, and former Springdale council member Mark Chambers, were also married today. They jointly own Under the Eaves Bed and Breakfast in Springdale.

It remains to be seen whether the State of Utah will be able to successfully appeal the decision, which was made on Friday, to overturn the same-sex marriage ban in Utah. On Sunday, Dec. 22, the State of Utah’s emergency motion for temporary stay of the ruling was denied. The basis for denial had no bearing on the matter of same-sex marriage but was because the state’s motion did not meet the needed criteria for a stay pending appeal. Rather than asking for a stay pending appeal, the state had asked for a stay of the district court’s order until a decision was made on their stay motion. This did not satisfy the needed criteria to obtain a stay of the ruling.

“Because the motion before us does not meet the requirements of the Federal or local appellate rules governing a request for a stay, we deny the motion,” the court’s official decision stated. “This denial is without prejudice.”

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Written by Cami Cox, photos by Josh Warburton

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