Christian Protests Federal Intervention of Ban On Gays Marriage-- Will Fast Until Same Sex Marriage Ban Is Restored
Utah's Daily Herald reports:
Trestin Meacham says he has been going without food for 13 days, and is going to continue until same-sex marriages in Utah are stopped.
"I began a fast on Saturday the 21st of December; and will continue the fast until the State of Utah exercises its right of nullification," Meacham said on his blogtrestinfast.blogspot.com.
Meacham says he has gone without food, but continues to drink water and take weekly vitamin supplements.
On Dec. 20, U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby ruled that Utah's ban on gay marriage violated gay and lesbian couple's constitutional rights. The ban was approved in 2004 by two-thirds of voters.
Since then, the state has attempted to halt gay marriages in the state by petitioning the courts for stays against the unions. Shelby and the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have already refused to halt weddings while the state appeals what it calls a "rush to marry."
This week, the state issued a third stay request, this time with the U.S. Supreme Court. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is considering Utah's request to put an immediate halt on gay marriages in Utah.
According to Meacham, the state has another option, and he says his fast will continue until the state uses the option of nullification. On his blog he outlines the process and argues that states can nullify federal government actions if they feel they are unconstitutional.
He has documented much of his fast on his Twitter account @TrestinMeacham1, where he offers daily updates of his quest.