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Lesbian Couple Marries In Pennsylvania As Montgomery County Defies State’s Gay Marriage Ban
Coming just weeks after Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced that she will not defend the state against an ACLU backed lawsuit to overturn PA’s same-sex marriage ban. Pennsylvania’s Montgomery County yesterday said it would defy the ban and marry same-sex couples. And they have.
Today a lesbian couple has become the first to be married in the state of Pennsylvania.
Five same-sex couples have obtained marriage licenses in a suburban Philadelphia county that is defying a state ban on such unions.
Alicia Terrizzi and Loreen Bloodgood, of Pottstown, were the only ones to marry Wednesday. They say they didn’t set out to be pioneers, but wanted to take advantage of the opportunity offered by Montgomery County.
Retired marketing executive Ellen Toplin and long-time partner Charlene (CHAR’-lene) Kurland will marry after 22 years together. Kurland says she previously married a man because she had no other options.
In other states with same-sex marriage bans, licenses issued by defiant local officials have been voided by courts.
Democratic County Commission Chairman Josh Shapiro says marriage equality will come to Pennsylvania sooner or later.
A spokesman for Republican Gov. Tom Corbett, who opposes same-sex marriage, had no immediate comment.
1.5 million people live within Montgomery County which includes the city of Pennsylvania.
Congrats to the couple, my only hope, is that it doesn’t get struck down by the courts. Either way it’s a move in the right direction.