Same-sex couples look forward to legal benefits of marriage

Unless Gov. Butch Otter’s appeal for an emergency stay of a federal judge’s ruling striking down Idaho’s ban on same-sex marriage is granted, Idaho will have to begin recognizing existing same-sex marriages and allowing new ones Friday at 9 a.m.

Local News 8 spoke to two women who were married in Utah in December, who asked that we not reveal their identities out of fear of retaliation.

“I feel like there might be some prejudice and some discrimination against me at my current job,” one woman said.

Upon returning to Idaho, the women said they realized they had fewer rights than those extended to other married couples.

“When we filed our taxes this year, we had to file jointly for our federal taxes and then we had to pay extra to file separately for our state taxes ’cause Idaho wouldn’t allow us to file together,” another woman said.

When they adopted a child, only one of women could legally do the adoption.

“She can’t necessarily go with us and sign legal documents because she’s not seen as a parent,” she said, referring to her wife.

Theron McGriff married his longtime partner in Washington state last year. He said he faces similar challenges.

“When I pick up my partner’s medications, I’m always pressed for a, ‘Well, what’s your relationship?’ And you feel like you have to just verify and validate that that relationship exists every time,” said McGriff.

Same-sex marriage is already legal in 17 states and the District of Columbia.