Attorney General Eric Holder said for the purpose of receiving federal benefits, the more than 1,000 marriages performed in Utah are valid.
He said that since the Windsor decision issued in June 2013, the Justice Department has been working tirelessly to implement it.
“These couples should not be asked to endure uncertainty regarding their status as the litigation unfolds,” he said.
Same-sex marriage became legal in Utah after a court ruling on Dec. 20. It remained legal until Jan. 6 when the state obtained an injunction.
Today, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes instructed county clerks to finish the paperwork for those marriages that had been solemnized despite the injunction. He said the paperwork is an administrative function, not a legal one, so the state will continue not to recognize those marriages as valid.
View the video of Eric Holder here.