Supreme Court Puts Gay Marriage on Hold in Virginia

(New York Times) —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued a last-minute order putting a hold on same-sex marriages in Virginia less than a day before officials there were to begin providing marriage licenses to gay couples.

The move comes a month after the federal appeals court that struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage refused to delay the effects of its ruling.

Legal experts have predicted that the Supreme Court will take up the issue of same-sex marriage in its next term, which begins in October.

In July, the court said that Utah was not required to recognize the marriages of about 1,000 same-sex couples there while state officials pursued appeals