Breaking: Pennsylvania Gay Marriage Ban Overturned, Making Same-Sex Matrimony Legal Across Northeast

[Hissyspit]

Source: Reuters

@BreakingNews: Federal judge strikes down Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage - @NBCNews http://t.co/0Jaz2By32h

@AP: BREAKING: Pennsylvania gay marriage ban overturned, making same-sex matrimony legal across Northeast.

Federal judge strikes down same-sex marriage ban in Pennsylvania

By Reuters
Tuesday, May 20, 2014 14:39 EDT

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (Reuters) – A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage, the latest in a series of court decisions across the nation determining gay couples’ rights to wed.

The ruling makes Pennsylvania the 19th U.S. state to allow gay marriage in a trend that has gained momentum since the Supreme Court ruled last June that legally married same-sex couples are eligible for federal benefits.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSBREA4J0S820140520

[iandhr]

1. K&R

How many is that in a row.

[E-Z-B]

2. Yeah! Next positive news for that state: Corbett loses in November

[hue]

3. Yaaay! Another strikedown!! K&R!!

[MrScorpio]

4. How many state imposed same-sex marriage bans are left?

Anyone knows?

[DonViejo]

15. ...

In all, 18 states give legal status to gay marriage. If Jones’ decision stands, Pennsylvania would become the 19th and legalize gay marriage throughout the Northeast.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/dozens-wed-after-oregon-gay-marriage-ruling/2014/05/20/6439bbc2-dfec-11e3-9442-54189bf1a809_story.html?

19 down, 31 to go.

[TlalocW]

30. Actually, depending on your definition there are 21 states left that ban same-sex marriage

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/05/gay-marriage-states-legal-map

With full reversal of bans plus decisions that are on hold pending review/appeal, we've got 29 states, and considering how things have been going, those "under review" states' judiciaries may take into account that keeping the ban will put them on the wrong side of history.

The antis have 21, and that includes 4 that are under appeal.

TlalocW

[LynneSin]

5. Pennsylvania was an embarassment to the region. Other NE states have legalized it

Woohoo!

[PRETZEL]

6. It's about time nt

edit to add Penn Live link

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/05/pennsylvania_gay_marriage_ban.html#incart_graystrip#incart_orangestrip

[William769]

7. Yes!

[hack89]

8. Great! nt

[napi21]

9. YEAH! All you yankees have to do now is get rid of your stupid Governor

and the T-Baggers you elected and you MIGHT get back to a sort of normal state!

BTW, I'm from Pa. and now (unfortunately) live in Ga. so I can comfortably call you Yankee's. I'd much rather be an Damn Yankee than what lives here!

[Orrex]

10. We're doing the best we can!

[PRETZEL]

11. Corbett is pretty doable in terms of not being reelected

however, turning the state House and Senate is a much more daunting task.

[Initech]

49. Tom Corbett in no way, shape or form gets to challenge this.

Or maybe he should. Either way his handling of the Jerry Sandusky case will come back to bite him in the ass.

[shenmue]

12. Aha!

Tee-rific!

[dixiegrrrrl]

13. Let's enjoy it while we can.

I never thought that legal abortion would be under such heavy attack all these years later, so am hoping we get time enough to enjoy the marriage equal rights, and the new cannabis laws, for awhile.

[Swede Atlanta]

14. Great news for PA!

[brooklynite]

16. Damned commie liberal Judge.....

John Edward Jones III is an American lawyer and jurist from the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. A Republican, Jones was appointed by President George W. Bush...

This is also the Judge who overturned Intelligent Design teaching in "Kitzmiller v. Dover"

[DonViejo]

19. I'm trying to verify this information...

Last edited Tue May 20, 2014, 05:14 PM - Edit history (1)

He was recommended by Rick Santorum; this is hilarious!

Picked that info up at another site, trying to confirm it. If true, it's just too rich. Poor little Ricky!

On edit:

Appears to be true

As you can see, today we have not only another state gay marriage ban struck down by a federal judge. We have another struck down by a Bush appointee. Indeed, one endorsed by then-Senator Rick Santorum.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/what-will-scotus-do

[markpkessinger]

34. Indeed he was . . .

. . . and his decision in that case was a brilliant one! See: http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/dover/kitzmiller_v_dover_decision.html

[closeupready]

17. Good. Glad to hear it.

K&R

[irisblue]

18. I never expected to see this come to pass

A news update about Anita Bryant & her working to get the Dade county Fla ordinance overturned in summer 1977 was on the tv, I watched and mumbled " she won't be happy till she marches us all off to the camps." Mom heard me, the next many years were 'interesting.'
I never expected to see these changes, the arc of history is long and bends towards justice.

[onehandle]

20. Where I live in Philadelphia, I see chicks holding hand with chicks, dudes holding hands with dudes.

Walking down the street like they're married.

Now they can stop living in sin and honor the lord in holy union like us straights.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. Try calling opposite sex marriage "mixed".

[IronLionZion]

26. You'd think the family values crowd would want more families

and same sex couples are the least likely to have abortions too.

[markpkessinger]

35. You would think so, but then again . . .

. . . bigotry has never required a rational basis!

[kpete]

21. Bush-Appointed Judge Cites Scalia In Axing Pennsylania Gay Marriage Ban

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/dc/judge-cites-scalia-pennsylvania-gay-marriage

[mahatmakanejeeves]

25. We should bake a cake for Scalia.

.

[markpkessinger]

32. Same judge who overturned creationists' attempt to force 'Intelligent Design' to be taught ...

... in schools in the Dover, PA school district. See my message down thread for a link to that decision.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

22. To think the Republicans were claiming Pennsylvania was going to vote for RMoney.

[Codeine]

24. Just a few years ago one could count the states that allowed gay marriage on one hand,

but in just a few years I imagine we'll be more able to do that with the states than don't allow it.

Progress, my DU friends.

[IronLionZion]

27. Just a few years ago, this seemed impossible in many states

and people were worried about election implications around this issue as if America wasn't ready for it. A few years before that, people were getting fired, beat up, or even killed just for being gay. Its astonishing how quickly America has made progress on this issue and we can progress forward on other issues as well. Many times it is one state at a time.

[MadrasT]

28. PENNSYLVANIA FUCK YEAH!!!!

For the first time in a long time I AM PROUD OF MY HOME STATE!!!

[markpkessinger]

33. As another native of PA, I will second that! ;) n/t

[WorseBeforeBetter]

37. I'll third it! (n/t)

[Freddie]

44. Me too!

PA: Now somewhat less backwards than before!
And tonight we find out who's going to show Corbett the door in Nov.

[MadrasT]

29. City of Philadelphia has extended office hours

From Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhiladelphiaCityGovernment?fref=nf

After today's Pennsylvania Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) decision, the Register of Wills is staying open late, until 5:30 pm and will have extended hours tomorrow from 8am - 7pm.

This afternoon Federal District Judge John Jones ruled that Pennsylvania's DOMA is unconstitutional, making Pennsylvania the 19th state to recognize same-sex marriages.

In celebration of this special day, our #MayorsPOTD is a shot of Mayor Nutter raising the rainbow flag at the 4th Annual LGBT History Month Celebration and Flag Raising Ceremony (Oct. 6, 2013).

[markpkessinger]

31. It's worth noting that this is the same judge . . .

. . . who penned the brilliant, eloquent 90-page disembowelment of creationists' attempts to force the teaching of 'Intelligent Design' as an 'alternative theory' of the earth's origins alongside scientific theories of the same, in the case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. That decision is a joy to read; I'll look forward to reading his decision in this case. What is perhaps most surprising, in both cases, is that Judge Jones was appointed by George W. Bush.

[SoapBox]

36. Great!

[Ash_F]

38. 10 years ago Massachusetts became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.

It's been a long fight, but we are making progress.

[lancer78]

50. Same sex marriage bans

began the inevitable march to being ruled unconstitutional on that day.

[cosmicone]

39. congratulations to my LGBT brothers and sisters

may the trend encompass the whole nation - even Alabama and Mississippi.

[Ruby the Liberal]

40. HUGE K&R!!!!

[cap]

41. New hope will be going crazy

Business will be booming in bucks county

[Arkana]

42. Nineteen states? Are we talking about the ones who've appealed

the overturn?

[BlueInPhilly]

43. And Corbutt can still appeal

and use MY tax $ to hire private lawyers again on behalf of the state because our AG has balls.

[Freddie]

45. I don't think he will

All but the most nutcase Repugs realize by now this is a done issue and they lost on this one. Look how Corbett's trying to look "reasonable" and "moderate" (he really does support schools! he wants the Medicaid expansion if we do it his way!) now that he's up for re-election. Sorry Tom, start packing your bags now.

[Hissyspit]

46. @AP: BREAKING: Pennsylvania governor says he won't appeal ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

@AP: BREAKING: Pennsylvania governor says he won't appeal ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

m.twitter.com/AP

[PRETZEL]

47. Here's the AP article

taken from the Patriot News,

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/05/gay_marriage_in_pa_gov_tom_cor.html#incart_river_default

If this wasn't an election year for him, not so sure he wouldn't have fought this,

However, it is a lose - lose issue for him right now.

[Initech]

48. Another one bites the dust!

They should just go ahead and overturn nationally. It's gonna happen anyways. Why hide it anymore?

[Louisiana1976]

51. That's wonderful news. K&R

[47of74]

52. What's even more delicious is that...

....the judge who made the decision is one that Frothy Santorum backed to be confirmed as judge.