By ALISON NOON, The Associated Press

CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — While some states debate ways to limit how gay couples benefit from the national legalization of same-sex marriage, Nevada became the latest state to take aim at the last vestiges of defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Joined by gay couples and their families, Democratic lawmakers back in control of the Nevada Legislature want to delete a now-defunct gay marriage ban in the Nevada Constitution.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided in June 2015 that failing to provide or recognize gay marriages violates rights to due process and equal protection.

Pam Roberts, who spoke in support of the bill and was accompanied by her wife and two sons at a legislative hearing Tuesday, said keeping the ban language means Nevada would automatically reinstate the discriminatory policy should a conservative high court someday overturn the decision that Supreme Court justices approved 5-4.

More than that, Roberts said, it's a slap in the face from the state where she chose to raise her kids and legally wed Gretchen Miller.

"As long as it's there, I'm impacted," she said.

Thirty-one states had enacted laws banning same-sex marriage before the ruling, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Most remain on the books, however invalid.

Legislators in North Dakota and Virginia recently rejected a pro

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Las Vegas is referred to as the wedding capital of the world, but some visitors end up tying the knot in less globally known areas of the valley. In particular, North Las Vegas and the northwest valley run counter to the stereotype of marriages here being held at drive-throughs or Elvis-themed chapels.
North Las Vegas and the northwest valley appeal “more to the locals and not so much to the tourism crowd, because I think the tourism crowd tends to want to stay close to the Strip,” said Julie Nourish, wedding planner and owner of Custom Las Vegas Weddings & Events.
Dawn Mickens, the founder of a wedding-officiant company known as Timeless Connection, said outsiders tend to overlook the North Las Vegas area.
“It’s beautiful as far as the parks are concerned,” she said. “The greenery is beautiful for outdoor weddings if you want that, and there’s also the mountain view.”
Kris Labuda, the president of the Las Vegas Wedding Chamber of Commerce, said downtown Las Vegas and the Strip are popular wedding sites because of their density of chapels.
Pastor Tyrone Seals of New Birth Baptist church, 3610 N. Rancho Drive, said he has been officiating weddings for 40 years at places including Craig Ranch Regional Park, Floyd Lamb State Park and Mount Charleston.
“I think it’s more peaceful and not as congested as getting married on the Strip,” he said.
North Las Vegas has a prevalent faith-b

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Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for the Clark County marriage license bureau in Las Vegas.

With the influx of people looking to the tie the knot in Sin City, Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya is advising couples to pre-apply for a marriage license to avoid super long lines.

"We encourage couples planning on coming in during the next few days to complete a marriage license pre-application online. This will save them some time when they come into the Marriage License Bureau," Goya said in a press release.

Marriage licenses cost $77 and, while it's not mandatory to pre-apply online, it is recommended to speed up the process. Couples receive a reference number after completing the digital application and need to present that, along with a valid form of ID like a driver’s license or passport, at the bureau.

Goya tells Fox News that a couple may save only about five minutes by pre-applying, but when it comes to hundreds of couples, the time saved really adds up for the clerks processing requests. Last minute marriage? She says the Clark County bureau is open until midnight and “if couples are in line by 11:59 PM they will still be helped.”

Las Vegas sees an exponential rise in marriage licenses issued on love's special holiday. In 2015, 1,673 marriage licenses were issued on Valentine’s Day, according to the Clark

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A lucky couple became the 10,000th same-sex marriage in Clark County on Friday. Amanda Falzone and Jennifer Dickerson of Colorado Springs, Colorado will receive tons of prizes, including a free wedding ceremony and a two-night stay and dinner at Mandalay Bay.

"It's getting to love who you want to love and being who you want to be and being allowed to be who you want to be," Dickerson said.


Las Vegas breaking news for August 1, 2017
"This is an great milestone for Las Vegas," Clark County Clerk Lynn Goya said in a statement. "As the wedding capital of the world, we are excited to become a premier wedding destination for the LGBT community. I would like to thank all of the businesses that donated wonderful gifts to the lucky couple. Las Vegas remains the best place to get married in the world."

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By Kyle Roerink
Published Friday, June 26, 2015 | 2:30 p.m.
Updated Friday, June 26, 2015 | 5:57 p.m.

Decision Day Rally at The Center
The Center CEO Michael Dimengo gets the crowd fired up as they celebrate with a Decision Day Rally in conjunction with the Nevada Equality Commission on Friday, June 26, 2015. Launch slideshow »
As one of the world’s top destinations for weddings, Las Vegas sent an open-arms invitation to millions of same-sex couples now able to elope without fear of legal discrimination: Get married here.


That message buzzed through the city today after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to strike down same-sex marriage bans nationwide that had been long sought by LGBT advocates.

Las Vegas has long been a friend of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community — using advertising campaigns, events and discounts to let people know the city is welcoming of people of any sexual orientation.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has been advertising to the LGBT community for the past six years and recently created a television spot targeted to the demographic for its “What Happens Here” campaign.

“Las Vegas has long been a leading LGBT destination and continues to be the wedding capital of the world,” LVCVA spokeswoman Heidi Hayes said. “We are excited that our fabulous weddings and honeymoons can be enjoyed by all Americans equally.”

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