An advocate for gay marriage in New Jersey will file a motion next week asking a judge to force the state to recognize same-sex marriage following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that strikes down a federal ban on the unions.

An advocate for same sex marriage rights runs from the Supreme Court waving an American flag following favorable rulings issued by the court
An advocate for same sex marriage rights runs from the Supreme Court waving an American flag following favorable rulings issued by the court (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
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Lambda Legal lawyer Hayley Gorenberg tells The Associated Press a hearing on the matter has been scheduled for August.

Gorenberg says the federal ruling means that state law now deprives gay couples of rights the federal government is granting. She is a lawyer for seven couples who are already suing the state, saying its civil unions do not give the couples equality.

The state attorney general's office declined comment on Wednesday.

Garden State Equality on their Facebook page announced plans for a rally at the Statehouse in Trenton on Thursday in support of marriage equality in New Jersey, a state that does not recognize same-sex marraige.

Troy Stevenson, executive director of Garden State Equality called the Supreme Court's  decision "bittersweet for New Jersey and in dozens of states around the country where discrimination continues and same sex couples remain relegated to second-class citizenship."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

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