A federal judge on Tuesday struck down Pennsylvania’s statutory same-sex marriage ban.U.S. District Judge John E. Jones, III, issued his ruling in a lawsuit filed last July on behalf of 11 gay and lesbian couples and a widow who are seeking marriage rights in the commonwealth.“We are better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history,” wrote Jones in his 39-page decision.The plaintiffs and their lawyers were quick to applaud the ruling.“We as the Whitewood family are absolutely ecstatic about this decision,” said Deb Whitewood, who has been with her partner, Susan Whitewood, for 22 years during a conference call with reporters.Maureen Hennessey, whose wife of 29 years, Mary Beth McIntyre, passed away last May, said she was “missing my better half to hug” after the court published Jones’ decision.“I know this means a lot to our children and to our grandchildren,” said Hennessey.Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced shortly after the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the ACLU filed the lawsuit on behalf of Hennessey and the 11 plaintiff couples that she would not defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban. Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration continues to defend the law.State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County) has led efforts to impeach Kane over her decision not to defend the same-sex marriage ban. Democratic members of the State Government Committee earlier this month walked out of a hearing the anti-gay Republican held to consider the issue.“We have an opinion that is now a bell ringer,” said Mark Aronchick, a l
http://www.washingto...an-struck-down/
Another day where justice prevails... so nice.