Montgomery County Issues First Marriage License To Gay Couple
By Brad Segall
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) - Even though same-sex marriages and civil unions are not recognized by the state of Pennsylvania, Montgomery County has begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples who began showing up at the Register of Wills Wednesday morning.
Loreen Bloodgood and Alicia Terrizzi of the Pottstown area were there bright and early with their two children after learning late Tuesday that Montgomery County would issue them a marriage license.
"We're no different than anybody else...finally it's recognized," Terrizzi said. "It doesn't make any difference to us. Nothing is going to change, but now we're going to have a piece of paper so everybody else recognizes."
After meeting with county officials, they applied for the license which was granted. Bloodgood says they've been together 17 years and this is the day they've been looking forward to:
"We believe in it not only for ourselves and the love that we have, but we think it's really important to show our children that we are a family and we are just like their friends who have moms and dads."
They were granted a waiver of the three day waiting period and they were on their way to get married.
Register of Wills' Bruce Hanes says he's coming down on the right side of history and the law.
The American Civil Liberties Union has launched a court challenge to Pennsylvania's ban on same sex marriages and civil unions. Another couple planning to apply for a license backed away yesterday after meeting with the ACLU's attorneys.
