A federal judge overturned Montana's same-sex marriage ban on Wednesday, effective immediately, calling the 2004 amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman unconstitutional.

Like similar court decisions striking down same-sex marriage bans across the country, U.S. District Judge Brian Morris cited the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause in his ruling, writing, "The time has come" and "Montana no longer can deprive Plaintiffs and other same-sex couples of the chance to marry their loves."

In a statement, Montana's Republican Attorney General Tim Fox said he planned to fight the ruling "until such time as there is no further review or no appeal can be made in a court of law."

According to the L.A. Times, "Morris did not stay his injunction, which means state officials could begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately." Montana becomes the 34th state to allow such unions.

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