Montgomery County, PA issues first marriage license to same sex couple!!!

KDM323 · July 2013

http://www.timesherald.com/article/20130724/NEWS01/130729822/gay-couple-marries-in-montgomery-county

This is a first in PA I believe!!!

KDM323 · July 2013

First page text of article for those who don't like random links:

NORRISTOWN — Montgomery County made history Wednesday by issuing the very first two same-sex marriage licenses in the state of Pennsylvania.

Loreen M. Bloodgood, 40, and Alicia A. Terrizzi, 45, both of Pottstown, were married hours after Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans Court D. Bruce Hanes, granted a marriage license, just after 8 a.m. They have been in a relationship for 18 years and came in with two school-age boys, said Hanes.

Hanes said he waived the three-day waiting period — typical of all marriage licenses — for the Pottstown couple because they were leaving the area soon and wanted to expedite their wedding. Waivers of the sort are at the discretion of the Clerk of the Orphan’s Court.

Sasha Esther Ballen, 38, and Diana Lynn Spagnuolo, 39, both of Wynnewood, came in not long after and were granted a marriage license.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

Yay! I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Not in my county, because I'm in the city, but in PA rural counties, they're so.. frustrating. And I just wanna be like

KDM323 · July 2013

LMc0322 said:

Yay! I look forward to seeing how this plays out. Not in my county, because I'm in the city, but in PA rural counties, they're so.. frustrating. And I just wanna be like

Love it!

I agree completely. There are "blue" pockets around the state and then LOTS and LOTS of "red"...so it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

Yeah, I grew up in one of those large red pockets. It was a beautiful place to grow up, but I am lucky that I had such great parents so that I didn't come out of it a hateful bigot like a lot of my peers.

Simply Fated · July 2013

audubonbride2013 · July 2013

This is awesome news! I actually grew up in montco and I'm getting married there in a couple weeks.

HisGirlFriday13 · July 2013

Not to be all Debbie Downer here....but this is illegal and it means jack shit. Montgomery County (and it was the clerk of courts, not the county commissioners) can't just randomly decide, "Oh, you know what? Even though Pennsylvania affirmatively defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, WE DON'T CARE, so we're going to allow gay marriage." That's not how this works.

Those marriage licences are no more valid than one I could print up on my computer. They're meaningless pieces of paper that confer no benefits, rights, or legal protection. If someone chooses to use this as a springboard for challenging the state's law about same-sex marriage, it could maybe turn into something, but that's a big maybe.

Otherwise, this is empty grandstanding that promises gay couples rights it can't actually deliver.

KDM323 · July 2013

There are a few other pieces to the big picture in PA.

The ACLU filed a suit against the same sex marriage ban AND the State Attorney General said she will not defend against it.

That is all pretty recent. And now this.

[Deleted User] · July 2013

Yeah, if nothing else, it may show that some objections are beginning to crumble. It's all progress.

Peaseblossom55 · July 2013

It's all progress I agree! I love the family guy gifs!!

Ajuliana · July 2013

...Hisgirl, considering recent court rulings, I think what actually may be illegal is the state law discriminating against same sex couples. By issuing licenses, they may be preparing for a court battle and having one issued and then retracted would certainly give them the standing to sue.

QueerFemme · July 2013

HisGirlFriday13 said:

Not to be all Debbie Downer here....but this is illegal and it means jack shit. Montgomery County (and it was the clerk of courts, not the county commissioners) can't just randomly decide, "Oh, you know what? Even though Pennsylvania affirmatively defines marriage as being between one man and one woman, WE DON'T CARE, so we're going to allow gay marriage." That's not how this works.

Those marriage licences are no more valid than one I could print up on my computer. They're meaningless pieces of paper that confer no benefits, rights, or legal protection. If someone chooses to use this as a springboard for challenging the state's law about same-sex marriage, it could maybe turn into something, but that's a big maybe.

Otherwise, this is empty grandstanding that promises gay couples rights it can't actually deliver.

The whole point of the grandstanding is to start the dialogue. It's the same way Gavin Newsome did it in San Francisco that started the ball rolling here. No one is promising gay couples anything, and I'm sure that couple realizes that marriage certificate is worthless. But, when you get an official on board (even a simple county clerk) with doign the right thing, the dominos will begin to fall.

16maybeless · July 2013

Pennsylvania-bred bride here, now living in Massachusetts. I would like to assure every worried, uptight Pennsylvanian that since legalizing same-sex marriage in 2004, Massachusetts has not exploded, been plagued by locusts, or become any more sinful than we already were. =P

Go PA. I'd be so proud of you.

Montgomery County, PA issues first marriage license to same sex couple!!!

Re: Montgomery County, PA issues first marriage license to same sex couple!!!

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