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Will Florida join a majority of states in the country and recognize gay marriage? As Matt Galka tells us, it looks like that answer will be yes starting in January.

Voters approved a gay marriage ban in 2008. A constitutional amendment was approved that defined traditional marriage being between a man and a woman. That could be coming to an end next month. A federal appeals court declined to extend a stay on the ban.

Jim VanRiper and Equality Florida have been fighting for the ban to be overturned for years. The ruling says a stay on the ban will be lifted at the end of the day on January 5^th.

“It’s been a long time coming and we’re excited to see this day drop,” he said.

The original federal ruling overturning the ban came down in August. A stay was put on to allow an appeal.   The State’s Attorney General could still factor into the decision

Officials from Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office said they are reviewing the ruling.  Bondi had asked for an extension of the stay.

“Well I guess nothing is definite until it’s done, but it would take the Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court implementing a stay of their own, and that’s highly unlikely. It hasn’t happened in similar situations,’ said VanRiper.

Licenses could start to be granted on January 6^th, the same day as Governor Rick Scott’s inauguration. If the marriage licenses are handed out next month, Florida will become the 36^th state plus Washington, D.C. to allow same-sex marriage.