U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess found the gay-marriage ban violated the equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Photo:

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess found the gay-marriage ban violated the equal protection clauses of the U.S. Constitution. Photo:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Same-sex couples can start getting married in Alaska on Monday.

Phillip Mitchell, with the state Department of Vital Statistics, said couples who completed applications last week before the courts issued a stay can start picking up their licenses Monday morning.

He also tells The Associated Press in an email that offices across the state will again be taking marriage applications for same-sex couples.

A federal judge on Oct. 12 ruled the state’s ban on same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. The state intends to appeal, and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a temporary stay for the state to seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, the nation’s highest court denied the state’s request for a stay on Friday, when marriages offices were closed for a state holiday.

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