Politics & Government

Same-Sex Limerick Couple First to Marry in Montco

Five same-sex couples received the first marriage licenses in Pennsylvania, regardless of a state ban.

By Brittany Tressler

Montgomery County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes issued five marriage licenses to same-sex couples Wednesday, in defiance of the Pennsylvania ban on gay marriage. 

Loreen M. Bloodgood and Alicia A. Terrizzi, of Limerick, were first in line at the Register of Wills office after Hanes announced Tuesday that he would provide the certificates to same-sex couples.

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Hanes waived the three-day waiting period, normal for all marriage licenses, because the couple was planning to go on vacation; a marriage ceremony was held hours later in North Wales.

Bloodgood and Terrizzi have been in a relationship for 18 years and have two young boys.

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“I think we feel equal for once,” said Bloodgood, according to The Intelligencer. “We feel the same as anybody else. It’s a great feeling, almost indescribable.”

“I knew, driving in, that we could have a line around the block,” Hanes told the Times Herald. “Tears, everywhere.”

On Tuesday, Hanes announced that he was prepared to issue a marriage license to a different lesbian couple, who decided that morning not to proceed. Hanes said his decision was based upon the constitution, a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and remarks made by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane.

“When I took the oath of office 19 months ago, I swore to uphold the U.S. and the Pennsylvania Constitutions,” said Hanes. “ Article 1 Section 1 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, aptly entitled ‘Inherent rights of mankind,’ says “all men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which is “pursuing their own happiness.’”

County Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards hailed the decision, saying that Hanes was “on the right side of history.”

“Equality took a step forward in Montgomery County with the decision to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples,” Shapiro said.

Commissioner Bruce Castor, a lone Republican on the board, disagreed with the decision based on the law.

“People responsible for enforcing that law must do so unless the law is changed or a court declares the law invalid,” Castor said. “Individual elected officials ought not substitute their own views for that of the people expressed through their elected legislature and governor.”


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