PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The National Organization for Marriage says it is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block a federal judge’s order declaring Oregon’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.

The group, which opposes gay marriage, says it filed the request on Tuesday with Justice Anthony Kennedy, who handles such requests from the region that includes Oregon.

Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum has declined to defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban, and U.S. District Judge Michael McShane ordered last week that gays and lesbians be allowed to marry.

The National Organization for Marriage is seeking a stay of that ruling while it appeals an earlier decision that prohibited the group from defending the marriage ban on behalf of its Oregon members.

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