On Thursday, the out-of-state marriage of couple Amy Sandler and Niki Quasney is officially legal indefinitely under a federal judge's order in the state of Indiana. USA Today said US District Judge Richard Young's decision extended a temporary restraining order he handed down last month. Young had ruled then in favor of recognizing the same-sex marriage of Sandler and Quasney, and on Thursday extended that month-old order.
The couple from Munster, who have two young daughters, challenged the state ban on same-sex marriage as it would endanger Sandler's ability to obtain federal benefits. Quasney reportedly has Stage 4 ovarian cancer and already underwent several numerous surgeries and chemotherapy. According to court records, Quasney's health has urged them to challenge the state law in court. USA Today said that although they are only among the many same-sex couples who had challenged the Indiana ban on gay marriage, they are the only couple so far who were able to obtain legal recognition.
In a statement Quasney said from Lambda Legal, the gay rights group that represented the couple in court, she said, "We are so relieved. We are so thankful that we can move forward and concentrate on being with each other. Our time together and with our daughters is the most important thing in the world to me."
Lambda Legal said in a statement, "We are relieved and happy to send our congratulations and best wishes to Amy, Niki and their family. We applaud their courage and commitment to each other and to equality as they fight Niki's illness."
USA Today said both camps have asked Young to decide on the recognition of Quasney and Sandler's marriage without going to a full trial. Young reportedly was not required to make such decision on the requests. On the other hand, the Indiana Attorney General's Office nonetheless expressed its intentions to enforce the ban and urge Young to defend the state's statute.
"The motion should not have been granted since the current rule of law does not allow for a hardship exception from the statute for one person or two people, as that would create inconsistency for all other citizens of Indiana," according to the statement.
