Georgia will comply with Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage

ST. MARYS, Ga. – After Friday's ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, same-sex marriage is now legal in all 50 states. That means Georgia must comply and begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Georgia had been one of 14 states still holding out.

News4Jax reporter Ashley Harding visited St. Marys for people's opinions. As expected, there were a lot of mixed responses. Some people are thrilled, others not so much. 

Cody Presny has every reason to be excited after hearing the news about Friday's Supreme Court ruling. His sister is now one of the millions who can legally marry in the state of Georgia.

"This is the next big social movement that is happening in this day and age. I'm happy to be alive during this time," said Cody Presny,  who supports same-sex marriage.

Friday, Georgia gov. Nathan Deal released a statement saying the state would follow through with issuing marriage licenses. In addition Georgia's attorney general Sam Olens released this statement. 

"In our system of government, the Supreme Court bears the ultimate responsibility for determining the constitutionality of our laws.
Once the Supreme Court has ruled, its order is the law of the land. As such, Georgia will follow the law and adhere to the ruling of the Court."

Both Camden and Glynn County officials tell News4Jax same-sex couples can start get licenses as soon as possible. The same process for getting one applies. The only difference is the licenses list couples as "applicant 1 and applicant 2" instead
of "bride and groom."

David Veal was visiting St. Marys from an area west of Atlanta. He believes this decision to legalize same-sex marriage should have been left to the state.

"With a lot of stuff that is going with the government, they're trying to tell people how they should live," David Veal said. 


About the Authors:

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.