Summary of gay marriage cases before appeals court

Kelly Noe, right, stands with her partner Kelly McCracken, as Noe holds a birth certificate for their daughter that has both of their names on it, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, in Cincinnati. The couple are plaintiffs in the Ohio gay marriage case heard Wednesday in Cincinnati. A three judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in six gay marriage fights from four states, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. (AP Photo/Al Behrman) Kelly Noe, right, stands with her partner Kelly McCracken, as Noe holds a birth certificate for their daughter that has both of their names on it, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, in Cincinnati. The couple are plaintiffs in the Ohio gay marriage case heard Wednesday in Cincinnati. A three judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in six gay marriage fights from four states, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

By Associated Press August 7, 2014 4 min read

The Cincinnati-based 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments Wednesday on six gay marriage fights from Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee on Wednesday, setting the stage for one ruling. Each case deals with whether statewide gay marriage bans violate the Constitution. A look at them:

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KENTUCKY

Kentucky has two cases, including a lawsuit filed by three couples last year seeking to have their marriages recognized by the state.

Plaintiff’s attorney Laura Landenwich told the judges that Kentucky’s law doesn’t have a rational purpose and discriminates against same-sex couples. Waiting for voters to change the law is not an option, Landenwich said.