Court Rejects Gay Rights Cases From Ariz., Nev.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from Arizona and Nevada involving the rights of same-sex couples.

The justices let stand an appeals court ruling striking down an Arizona law that said only married state employees were eligible for health benefits and withdrawing domestic partner benefits for unmarried state workers.

Arizona's constitution bars same-sex marriage, so gay couples had no way to obtain the state benefits.

The other case, from Nevada, was a challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

A group opposing gay marriage filed the appeal, even though it won a judgment in federal district court. The Coalition for the Protection of Marriage wanted to bypass the federal appeals court in San Francisco, but that is where the case now will be considered.