Guam has become the first U.S. territory to allow same-sex couples to file for marriage licenses, beating out Puerto Rico, the largest U.S. territory. However, it remains uncertain whether the memorandum allowing the distribution of marriage licenses will mean same-sex couples will marry in the Pacific island.

Guam's Attorney General Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson released a memorandum addressed to the Public Health and Social Work Department to allow the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing the decision of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, according to Pacific Daily News.

"The department is advised to treat all same gender marriage applicants with dignity and equality under the Constitution of our nation, and the ruling of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals," Attorney General Barrett-Anderson wrote to Public Health's acting Director Leo Casil.

"While the (Public Health) Department was acting in accordance with Guam law, the Ninth Circuit's recent decision has rendered Guam's marriage statute legally unenforceable until such time that the Supreme Court of the United States alters the holding of the Ninth Circuit of Appeals," she continued.

In Oct. 7, 2014, the Ninth Circuit Court ruled in favor of same-sex marriage and since the island territory falls under its jurisdiction, it must acquiesce to its ruling.

However, it remains uncertain whether the Public Health Department will follow through with the decision.

Attorney General Barrett-Anderson announced her recommendation after Kathleen M. Aguero and Loretta M. Pangelinan filed a federal lawsuit against the island on Monday.

The couple was rejected last week when they applied for a marriage license, reported the Guardian. The clerk said the island's law defining marriage as between a man and a woman prevented him from issuing them a license.

Although the couple's attorney welcomed the attorney general's decision, according to the Pacific Daily News, he remained skeptical about whether the Public Health Department and Governor Eddie Calvo would agree.

In an interesting turn, on Thursday, Gov. Calvo announced he backed a referendum on same-sex marriage, reports the BBC. He did not provide details on when the referendum would happen.

On the other side of the world, the most populous U.S. territory, Puerto Rico, continues to have on same-sex marriage. A couple took their case to the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals but, the Washington Blade reports, the court has decided to not make a decision until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the matter.