Elected Officials, Same-Sex Newlyweds Celebrate MontCo at Marriage Equality Rally

By Brittany Tressler

More than 100 people gathered on the steps of the Montgomery County Courthouse Monday as a show of support to D. Bruce Hanes, the county Register of Wills who announced last month his decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples; a decision that has found the county embroiled in a lawsuit with the Pennsylvania Health Department.

Michele Lockman and Julie Phillips organized the rally–which featured several elected officials and same-sex newlyweds–to thank the county commissioners, and Hanes.

One couple, “happily married after a week,” addressed the crowd, thanking elected officials who fought on behalf of same-sex marriages, specifically State Senator Daylin Leach.

Leach, a candidate for the 13th Congressional District, has been performing marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples over the past week.

“I stand on my driveway and marry a same-sex couple, I must tell you, it’s such a profoundly emotional and proud moment for me,” Leach said, according to Times Herald reporter Carl Hessler's video on the rally.  “To me, everything that we’ve been fighting for is exemplified in that moment.”

While marriage licenses continue to be issued, the lawsuit to stop the licenses will be in court for at least a few more weeks.

According to a document from the Commonwealth Court, the Pennsylvania Health Department has until Monday to file a brief, and the county has until Aug. 19 to file a response; after that, the court will schedule argument on the suit “on an expedited basis.”

State Rep. Madeline Dean (D-153) said she and her colleagues will continue to fight for marriage equality in Harrisburg calling marriage a fundamental civil right of society.