US: Florida grants first divorce to gay couple

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A same-sex couple has been granted a divorce for the first time in the US state of Florida.

The divorce was granted by the same judge who recently declared the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, Circuit Judge Dale Cohen.

The Broward County judge on Wednesday granted the divorce to Heather Brassner and Megan Lade, who entered a civil union in 2002 in Vermont.

Ruling in August, Judge Cohen branded the state’s 2008 voter-approved ban on gay and lesbian couples marrying as unconstitutional.

An attorney acting on behalf of Brassner said it was the first time a same-sex couple had been granted a divorce.

They expect the Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is adamantly opposed to same-sex marriage, to appeal against the decision.