Gay Marriage Court Battle Moves to Wyoming

CASPER, Wyo. - The legal battle to allow same-sex couples to wed moves to a federal court in Wyoming.

U.S. District Judge Scott Skavdahl scheduled a hearing Thursday in Casper on a lawsuit filed by four same-sex couples seeking to force Wyoming to allow gay marriage in response to a federal court rulings that apply to the state.

Republican Gov. Matt Mead and other Wyoming officials say state law defines marriage as only between a man and a woman, and county clerks have been unwilling to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

Wyoming is among the most conservative states in the country, but recent court decisions are forcing the gay marriage issue on conservative states. Wyoming's conservative neighbor Idaho officially began allowing same-sex marriages on Wednesday after exhausting its legal attempts to stop them.