Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Sherie Schild and Jan Barrier
In August, we profiled three same-sex couples, who were among 10 suing the state of Missouri to have their out-of-state unions recognized here. Because the couples’ unions were not valid in their home state of Missouri, they were treated like single people legally, which had various effects on employment benefits, healthcare, wills, and many other aspects of life.
Today, eight days after oral arguments in the case, Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled that the state must recognize these marriages. “While having a standardized definition of marriage that promotes ‘consistency, uniformity, and predictability’ may be a legitimate governmental interest, there is no logical relationship between that interest and laws that discriminate against gay men and lesbians who have been married in jurisdictions in which same-sex marriages are legal,” the judge wrote in his decision. You can read the full ruling here.
“Our hearts are filled with jubilation,” said Jan Barrier and Sherie Schild, one of the couples that we profiled. “We believe the judge made a fair and just decision.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri had filed the landmark case, Barrier vs. Vasterling, in February. “This is a personal win for our 10 courageous couples who stepped up to represent the LGBT community,” said Jeffrey A. Mittman, the organization’s executive director. “Even better—this is a win for the whole state because a discriminatory law has been struck down.”
