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ACLU To Challenge KS Same Sex Marriage Ban

The American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas appears to be close to filing a lawsuit aimed at overturning the Kansas' ban on same sex marriage. Stephen Koranda reports:

Johnson County, Kansas, has attracted a lot of attention after a judge there ordered workers to begin issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples.

But Doug Bonney, with the ACLU of Kansas, says it doesn't look like other counties are following suit.

Initially, same sex couples in some counties were being told they couldn't even apply for a marriage license. Bonney says now, it appears couples are being given applications.

"And then either told to return at the end of the three day waiting period, or in some counties they're being told either immediately, or within a little while, that their application is denied," says Bonney.

Bonney says some of the people denied will become plaintiffs in the lawsuit.

This week, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said he will defend the state ban on same sex marriage against any lawsuits.

Stephen Koranda is the managing editor of the Kansas News Service, based at KCUR. He has nearly 20 years of experience in public media as a reporter and editor.