Same-sex marriages will begin in Idaho on Friday after a federal judge denied a state request for an injunction. Judge Candy Dale ruled this week the Idaho ban violates couples’ equal protection rights under the 14th Amendment. Idaho had wanted the ruling on hold pending its appeal. But on Wednesday, Dale said she sees no reason to halt the marriages because she expects the appeal to fail. The Idaho ruling was the latest in a series of marriage equality rulings sweeping the country, with seven state bans struck down this year. Same-sex marriage bans are now facing court challenges in 31 of the 33 states that enforce them.