Little Rock, AR – A large number of gay couples were issued marriage licenses in the Bible Belt state since a judge recently struck down Arkansas’ same-sex marriage ban, according to the Associated Press.

Now, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel is asking the state’s court to suspend the ruling. Though McDaniel, a Democrat, has said that he supports same-sex marriage, he has vowed to continue defending the ban because he believes it is his job to do so.

Though hundreds of couples lined up, it’s expected that dozens received licenses from Saturday until Monday, before the stay was put in place. These marriages, often called loophole marriages, are not always recognized by the state until a higher court makes a ruling.