On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that Louisiana's statewide ban on marriage equality is constitutional, marking the first time a federal court has done so since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down parts of the discriminatory "Defense of Marriage" Act in 2013. According to BuzzFeed, U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman, who was appointed in 1983 by President Reagan, claimed in his decision that, "Public attitude might be becoming more diverse, but any right to same-sex marriage is not yet so entrenched as to be fundamental."
Feldman added,
"This Court is persuaded that Louisiana has a legitimate interest…whether obsolete in the opinion of some, or not, in the opinion of others…in linking children to an intact family formed by their two biological parents, as specifically underscored by Justice Kennedy in Windsor."
If the ruling is appealed, it would go to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is also hearing appeals on a marriage case from Texas.