Couples, clerks and opponents across the US are preparing for the Supreme Court’s upcoming ruling on
(24 Jun 2015) (NATS) DAWN CHAPEL AND LEE CHANEY HAVE BEEN TOGETHER FOR 11 YEARS. SOUNDBITE: Dawn Chapel, Same-sex Marriage Advocate: "I know that I'm married. I don't have the paper that says that I am." BUT CHAPEL SOON MIGHT HAVE JUST THAT IF THINGS GO HER WAY IN WASHINGTON. (NATS) THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON WHETHER SAME-SEX COUPLES HAVE A RIGHT TO MARRY IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF JUNE. THE HIGH COURT HEARD ARGUMENTS TWO MONTHS AGO IN CASES FROM KENTUCKY, OHIO, TENNESSEE AND MICHIGAN. (NATS) SAME-SEX COUPLES AREN'T THE ONLY ONES WAITING ON A DECISION. LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE GEARING UP FOR A POSSIBLE ONSLAUGHT OF WEDDING LICENSE-SEEKERS. (NATS) IF THE LEGAL GREEN LIGHT COMES, INGHAM COUNTY CLERK BARB BYRUM SAYS SHE'S PREPARED TO WAIVE MICHIGAN'S WAITING PERIOD AND BEGIN OFFICIATING WEDDINGS IMMEDIATELY. SOUNDBITE: Barb Byrum, Clerk of Ingham County, Michigan: "So many of these couples have been waiting decades to marry. I can't imagine making them wait another three days." CHANEY AND CHAPEL DON'T WANT TO WAIT ANOTHER MINUTE. SOUNDBITE: Lee Chaney, Awaiting Supreme Court Decision: "We'll be at the courthouse first thing in the morning. Or first thing in the afternoon. Or first thing in the evening. Whatever time of day Barb's going to open her doors, we will be at the courthouse." (NATS) SOME BACKERS OF SO-CALLED "TRADITIONAL MARRIAGE" SAY THEY'RE READY TO FIGHT BACK IF THERE IS A RULING IN FAVOR OF SAME-SEX MARRIAGE. LAWMAKERS IN TEXAS PASSED A BILL THAT ALLOWS CLERGY TO REFUSE TO OFFICIATE WEDDINGS THAT VIOLATE THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS. MICHIGAN LEGISLATOR GARY GLENN CO-AUTHORED THE STATE'S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN. SOUNDBITE: Gary Glenn, Co-Authored Michigan's Gay Marriage Ban: "The overwhelming majority of Americans by their votes on the ballot defined marriage as only between a man and a woman. We hope the United States Supreme Court will honor that." CHANEY IS SIMPLY RELIEVED THAT SHE'S GOING TO GET AN ANSWER. SOUNDBITE: Lee Chaney, Awaiting Supreme Court Decision: "Whether it's the way we want it or not, at least the Supreme Court believes that it's important enough to go through this and to make a decision." A DECISION COUPLES LIKE CHANEY AND CHAPEL HOPE RESULTS IN THEM WALKING DOWN THE AISLE ... OR AT LEAST TO THE COURTHOUSE. MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, ASSOCIATED PRESS, MASON, MICHIGAN Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
