The decision by U.S. District Court Judge Callie V.S. Granade was not accompanied by a stay, meaning same-sex couples could begin to apply for marriage licenses in Alabama as soon as county clerks' offices open on Monday. If the state doesn't file an emergency request for a stay, that would make Alabama the 37th state to legalize same-sex marriage.

The plaintiffs in the case, Cari Searcy and Kimberly McKeand, have been together more than 14 years and married in California in 2008. But because Alabama doesn't recognize legal same-sex marriages performed elsewhere, Searcy has not been able to adopt McKeand's 8-year-old son.

Alabama voters passed the Sanctity of Marriage Amendment in 2006, defining marriage as a union of one man and one woman.In her opinion, Granade dismissed Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's argument that the ban encouraged "responsible procreation."

"If anything, Alabama’s prohibition of same-sex marriage detracts from its goal of promoting optimal environments for children," Granade wrote. "Those children currently being raised by same-sex parents in Alabama are just as worthy of protection and recognition by the State as are the children being raised by opposite-sex parents."

h/t: MetroWeekly.