Judge to further narrow Ohio's gay marriage ban

WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) -- A federal judge announced Friday he would expand upon his previous ruling narrowing Ohio's ban on gay marriage, requiring the state to recognize marriages performed out of state.

Judge Timothy Black ruled back in February that Ohio must recognize out-of-state gay marriages on death certificates. But attorney Al Gerhardstein -- who is representing three Cincinnati lesbian couples suing to have their names put on the birth certificates of their children -- has since amended his request to include all out-of-state marriages, not just in the case of the death of one of the spouses.

Black said he will issue a ruling on April 14.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said he plans to appeal the ruling in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and likely all the way to the Supreme Court.

"And that's where it will ultimately be decided," he said.

*Note: This story has been clarified to explain the new ruling will still only refer to gay marriages performed out of state. It does not require Ohio to being issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

[WVXU]