ACLU Seeks to Force Kansas to Allow Gay Marriages

The American Civil Liberties Union is seeking a federal court order to force Kansas to allow same-sex couples to marry as the group challenges the state constitution's ban on gay marriage.

The ACLU filed its request Monday in U.S. District Court in Kansas City, Kansas, only three days after it filed a lawsuit in Wichita and Lecompton in Douglas County on behalf of lesbian couples who unsuccessfully sought marriage licenses.

The ACLU is requesting a preliminary injunction and an order temporarily restraining the state from enforcing its ban on gay marriage.

The lawsuit came after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear appeals from five states seeking to save their gay-marriage bans. The states included Oklahoma and Utah, which are in the same appeals court circuit as Kansas.

This story is part of our special report: "Gay Marriage". Want to read more? Here's the full list.