NEW ORLEANS, La. — Lambda Legal said Tuesday it is joining the legal team representing seven Louisiana same-sex couples and the Forum for Equality Louisiana, the state’s LGBT rights organization, in their appeal to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals of last month’s U.S. District Court ruling upholding Louisiana’s gay marriage ban.

“Only one federal court since Windsor has concluded on the merits that the Constitution permits the government to exclude same-sex couples and their children from marriage. We are proud to join a strong legal team appealing this decision to secure equal dignity and respect for all Louisiana families,” said Lambda Legal Senior Counsel Kenneth D. Upton, Jr.

“After dozens of well-reasoned state and federal district and appellate court rulings have come down over the past year striking down similar discriminatory bans nationwide, it is deeply distressing that the district court here came to a different conclusion,” said Upton.

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“We look forward to working with co-counsel and these brave plaintiffs to overturn this decision on appeal,” he added.

The case going up on appeal involves consolidated lawsuits filed in the past year: Robicheaux v. Caldwell, Robicheaux v. George and Forum for Equality Louisiana, Inc. v. Barfield.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman issued his ruling upholding Louisiana’s marriage ban in early September.