Pennsylvania state law currently bans same-sex marriages. However, yesterday morning two women were wed after receiving their marriage license from Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. Officials have taken their own stance in the county against state laws. According to FindLaw.com, officials commented that they wanted to “come down on the right side of history and the law.”
The two women, Alicia Terrizzi 45 and Loreen Bloodgood, 40, have been together for almost two decades. Terrizzi commented, “We’re not setting out to be pioneers. We don’t think our family is any different than anybody else.” Alicia is a teacher and her partner Loreen is a consultant. Together, they live in Pottstown with their two sons.
Pennsylvania is the only northeastern state that doesn’t grant licenses for same sex marriages or civil unions. The ban against gay marriage is currently being challenged in a lawsuit that has been filed this month.
After the collapse of DOMA, states have been gearing toward signing laws that grant gays the right to get married just as non-gay people do. The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit in federal court to challenge the ban in the state of Pennsylvania.
The governing body with representatives from each district, the Montgomery County Commission, expects that marriage equality will eventually be the law of Pennsylvania. They feel that it’s only a matter of time.