Officials in Idaho and Nevada have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop same-sex marriage in those states , at least temporarily , by barring implementation of a federal appeals court ruling issued Tuesday . The 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals struck down current bans on same-sex marriage in the two states , and later ordered its ruling to go into effect immediately . Idaho officials then asked the high court to intervene on an emergency basis and block enforcement of that lower court mandate . Nevada then followed suit . Justice Anthony Kennedy earlier Wednesday temporarily granted Idaho 's request , and is considering Nevada 's similar application . Same-sex couples in both states who brought the original lawsuit will now have time to respond in writing , over whether a longer stay should remain in effect while the case is litigated . `` I 'm pleased that Justice Kennedy has given us the opportunity to make our case in a way that helps avoid the confusion some other states have faced , '' said Idaho Gov . C.L . `` Butch '' Otter in a statement . `` I intend to be faithful to my oath of office and keep working to protect the Idaho Constitution and the mandate of Idaho voters in support of traditional marriage . '' The case is the latest in a series of rapidly evolving legal events this week on the controversial social issue . In a surprise move Monday , the justices refused to get involved now in the constitutional debate over same-sex marriage . That decision allowed same-sex couples to wed legally in five states -- Virginia , Utah , Oklahoma , Indiana , and Wisconsin . Utah is among the states where marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples for a brief period before stays were issued by the courts earlier this year , leaving a good deal of uncertainty over whether those marriages were valid . A three-judge panel from the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals had concluded the bans in Idaho and Nevada violated the equal protection rights of homosexuals to legally marry . `` The lessons of our constitutional history are clear : inclusion strengthens , rather than weakens , our most important institutions , '' said the judges . `` When same-sex couples are married , just as when opposite sex couples are married , they serve as models of loving commitment to all . '' Following what the Supreme Court did a day earlier , at least 32 states and perhaps three more could allow same-sex marriage in coming weeks , an increase of at least 13 states since the beginning of the month . Colorado and Utah announced Tuesday it would order county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples . The decisions affecting Idaho and Nevada become the fourth such federal appeals court to strike down voter-approved bans since June .
A federal appeals court Tuesday struck down two states ' ban on same-sex marriage . The decision is a victory for gay rights advocates who had argued that the bans were unconstitutional because they violated equal protection and due process guarantees guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. Idaho granted request temporarily ; Nevada 's pending .