Judge rules against gay marriage in Hawaii

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - U.S. District Court Judge Alan Kay upheld the state's current laws banning same-sex marriage in Honolulu federal court Wednesday.

Under current Hawaii law, same-sex couples can enter into a civil union, but they cannot marry.

Oahu couple Natasha Jackson and Janin Kleid filed a lawsuit against Gov. Neil Abercrombie and the state, claiming the law which reserves marriage to a man and woman is discriminatory and violates their rights.

An attorney for the couple says they will appeal.

Judge Kay said it should be up to lawmakers or voters to approve or reject same-sex marriage.

Legal Counsel Dale Schowengerdt of Alliance Defending Freedom released the following statement on Wednesday:

"This ruling affirms that protecting and strengthening marriage as the union of one man and one woman is legitimate, reasonable, and good for society. The people of Hawaii adopted a constitutional amendment to uphold marriage, and the court rightly concluded that the democratic process shouldn't be short-circuited by judicial decree."

Gov. Neil Abercrombie signed Hawaii's civil union legislation into law last year. He believes a ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.