Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden on Wednesday said that the marriages of some 1,300 gay and lesbian couples performed in Utah will be recognized in Delaware.

“Marriage equality is the law in Delaware and I strongly believe that individuals outside our state borders should be equally free to choose whom to love and whom to spend their lives with,” Biden said in a statement. “It is our position that these marriages are and should be recognized as valid under Delaware law.”

The marriages were conducted during a 17 day window bookended by a federal judge's ruling striking down Utah's marriage ban and the Supreme Court putting the judge's order on hold pending the outcome of an appeal.

Two days after Utah officials said they were putting the marriages “on hold,” the Obama administration announced that the federal government would recognize the marriages for purposes of federal benefits.

Maryland has also pledged to recognize the marriages.

(Related: Vince Gray: “Unequivocally” D.C. should recognize Utah gay marriages.)