Utah gay marriage ban struck down

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday ruled for the first time that states must allow gay couples to marry, finding the Constitution protects same-sex relationships and putting a remarkable legal winning streak across the country one step closer to the Supreme Court. The decision upheld a lowercourt ruling that struck down Utah’s gay marriage ban. However, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel immediately put the ruling on hold so it could be appealed, either to the entire 10th Circuit or directly to the nation’s highest court.