Same-sex couples planning to get hitched in Virginia will have to hurdle another setback in their battle for equality. In a decision on Wednesday, the United States Supreme Court issued an order blocking a ruling from an appeals court that struck down the state's ban against same-sex marriage. The pronouncement came after the court approved a stay application, which was filed by opponents of gay and lesbian marriage. The opposition was declared to specifically object the July 28 ruling by the Richmond, Virginia-based 4^th US Circuit Court of Appeals. This brief order from the high court was issued less than 24 hours before same-sex couples in Virginia could have started applying to be married.

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A similar order was issued by the Supreme Court in January of this year, when an order was declared to block the validity of gay and lesbian marriage in Utah. This recent brief order directed against the rights of same-sex couples in Virginia, therefore, does not come without a precedent.

In the incoming term of the Supreme Court, which commences in October and ends in June, at least one case pertaining to gay and lesbian marriage is slated to be tackled. At present, there are three pending same-sex cases lined up for the court justices to choose from. These cases comprise the disputes over the bans declared in Oklahoma, Utah, and most recently, Virginia.

Michele McQuigg, a Prince William County clerk of court who filed the Virginia stay application the previous week, states that the court's decision to put on hold the enactment of the decision from the lower court was a sensible move.

"The Supreme Court acted wisely in restraining the lower court from implementing a ruling of this magnitude before the high court has a chance to decide the issue," declared one of McQuigg's lawyers, Byron Babione, in a statement.

In a statement, Mark Herring, the state's Democratic attorney general and supporter of same-sex marriage, claimed that this move may work in favor of gays and lesbians. Herring deems it more significant if the Supreme Court will make the ultimate decision regarding this matter. Hence, he backs the brief order for the delay of the implementation of the lower court's ruling.

To date, 19 out of the 50 states in the US and the District of Columbia permit same-sex marriage.

TagsVirginia, Utah, Oklahoma, same-sex, marriage, Gay, lesbian, supreme court, Michele McQuigg, Prince William County, Mark Herring, Byron Babione