Over 1,000 Arkansans urge Attorney General not to defend discrimination

Today, December 10, a petition with over 1,000 signatures was delivered to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel, urging him to stand on the right side of history and let the November 25 ruling in Jernigan v. Crane stand. The ruling struck down the state's laws denying same-sex couples the rights and responsibilities of marriage.

The petiiton was hand-delivered to Attorney General McDaniel by Pastor Randy and Gary Eddy-McCain, along with their son, Bobby, and their friends, Jennifer Pierce and Mary Ann Hansen. Randy and Gary are plaintiffs in a separate court case involving the freedom to marry, Wright v. Smith, which is currently before the Arkansas Supreme Court. 

Dozens of Attorneys General have refused to appeal marriage cases in their states. Attorney General McDaniel has on several occasions spoken out for the freedom to marry, showing that he knows in his heart that ending marriage discrimination is what's best for Arkansas.

Arkansas Online reported that the Attorney General had received the petition:

Aaron Sadler, a spokesman for McDaniel, said a decision on the appeal wouldn't be made before the state's high court issues its decision.

"We appreciate the input from so many citizens who are passionate about the issue on both sides," he said in an email. "We received the petitions this morning, and the Attorney General will make a decision regarding an appeal after the Arkansas Supreme Court issues its ruling."

Freedom to Marry thanks Pastor Randy and Gary, Jennifer and Mary Ann, the 1,000+ Arkansans who signed the petition, and the legal teams leading the fight for marriage in the court room for all of their work on moving marriage forward.

Read more about marriage litigation in Arkansas.