Nevada legislators will not take up same-sex marriages, citing court rulings

CARSON CITY — There will not be a repeat of the drama that played out in the state Legislature two years ago over gay marriage now that a federal appeals court has ruled same-sex marriage is legal in Nevada.

Sen. Majority Leader Michael Roberson, R-Henderson, and assistant Majority Leader Ben Kieckhefer, R-Reno, said Senate Joint Resolution 13 passed by the 2013 session won’t be considered this session.

Gay rights activists are fine with that.

“Now that the appeals court has spoken, it’s not necessary,” said Peter Renn, attorney with the gay rights organization Lambda Legal.

“The reality is that same-sex couples are free to marry in Nevada today,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense to have a second vote on this now.”

State Sen. David Parks, D-Las Vegas, agreed. Parks, the first openly gay Nevada legislator, said Tuesday there was no need for Nevada’s proposed constitutional amendment to proceed in light of the court ruling.

SJR13 sought to repeal Nevada’s ban on same-sex marriage that was approved by voters in 2002. It would have required passage by lawmakers again this year before going to voters in 2016.

Leaving the matter to the courts also negates the chance it could be defeated in the Republican-controlled Legislature or at the ballot box. SRJ13 passed the Senate in 2013 by a vote of 12-9. Kieckhefer was the only Republican to vote in favor of it. The GOP now holds an 11-10 majority in the Senate. In the Assembly, it passed 27-14 with one Republican, Assemblywoman Michele Fiore of Las Vegas, voting yes.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Nevada’s ban last year, and county clerks throughout the state began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in the fall.

Thirty-seven states now have legalized gay marriage, either through state action or court rulings.

The U.S. Supreme Court has let stand federal appellate court decisions around the country — including Nevada — that held gay marriage bans were unconstitutional.

The high court could settle the issue in April when it hears arguments arising out of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that held states are within their powers to prohibit same-sex marriages or not recognize such marriages performed in another state.

Contact Sandra Chereb at schereb@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901. Find her on Twitter: @SandraChereb