A federal judge in Pennsylvania today ruled a state ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports:
“By virtue of this ruling, same-sex couples who seek to marry in Pennsylvania may do so, and already married same-sex couples will be recognized as such in the Commonwealth,” wrote U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III.
The ruling comes in a case filed in July by 11 gay couples, two teenage children of one of the pairs and a widow. The couples include Deb and Susan Whitewood of South Fayette, Diana Polson and Dawn Plummer of Point Breeze, and Lynn and Fredia Hurdle, of Crafton Heights.
It overturns, <<unambiguously>> and with rhetorical flourish, the 18-year-old state Defense of Marriage Act.
And the kicker is – did you spot that name? U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III? That’s Judge Jones! The judge in Kitzmiller! The judge appointed by Bush, the Republican judge, whose ruling in Kitzmiller is a joy to read.
O blessed judge.
I’m a Judge Jones fanboi.
His decision here is great reading too:
http://freethoughtblogs.com/cuttlefish/2014/05/20/the-pennsylvania-decision/
Great judge and proof that, despite appearances to the contrary not all Republicans are stupid, horrible, willfully ignorant and unfeeling people.
Good decision although it shouldn’t have taken this long – wonder how much longer before all the USA and then all the world (incl. my country of Oz also lagging wa-ay behind the times) finally accept equal marriage and it becomes as uncontroversial and accepted as interracial marriage has now long been?