Traditional Marriage Group to Alabama Residents: Ignore Gay Marriage Ruling

A pro-traditional marriage group is encouraging Alabama residents to reject a recent judge's order that legalizes same-sex marriage in the state.

Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, argued in a statement this week that federal Judge Callie Granade does not have the legal right to overturn a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in the state.

Granade ruled the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional in January.

 "A single federal judge does not have the authority to overturn a state marriage amendment and the people of Alabama should refuse to go along with this order," Brown said in the statement.

"The issues in play are currently under review by the Supreme Court, and allowing a lower court ruling that overturns a state marriage amendment adopted by over 80% of voters is reckless and undermines the integrity of the Court."

Brown went on to encourage "the people of Alabama [to] continue to enforce their state marriage laws."

The president of NOM also commended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in his statement. Following the lift of a two-week stay on Granade's ruling, Moore issued a letter to probate judges in the state, asking them to refuse to issue same-sex marriage licenses.

"We commend Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore for ordering state probate judges, who are responsible for issuing marriage licenses, to enforce state law limiting marriage to one man and one woman and to refuse to issue licenses that violate state law," Brown added.