23 Couples Want Their Pa. Same-Sex Marriages Certified By Changing Wedding Date
By Cherri Gregg
HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) -- Nearly two dozen same-sex couples who obtained marriage licences in Montgomery County before Pennsylvania's gay marriage ban was overturned have filed a proposed court settlement that would allow their marriages to be recognized by the state.
The proposed settlement, filed in Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, would essentially move the anniversary date for the twenty-three couples still part of the case to May 20, 2014 -- the same date a federal court found Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
"The Montgomery County register of wills would be requested to forward-date their documents to indicate their marriages are as of May 20th," explains David S. Cohen, a Drexel University law professor who represents the plaintiffs.
He wouldn't go into details about why that settlement was requested, but it would move the wedding dates to a time when Pennsylvania law no longer made them illegal.
Montgomery County register of wills Bruce Hanes is not a party to the case, but says he's willing to comply if the judge approves the agreement.
"I'm perfectly happy with that -- I support it 100 percent," he said.
As for the dozens of other couples who are not included in the settlement, lawyers for the plaintiffs say those people will have to seek out their own attorneys and petition the court separately to have their marriages recognized.
