Pro-same-sex-marriage rally planned in Norristown
Supporters of same-sex marriage plan a gathering on the courthouse steps this afternoon.
Proponents of same-sex marriage are planning a rally on the steps of the Montgomery County courthouse at 3 p.m.
Organizers say the rally is to support D. Bruce Hanes, the Montco Register of Wills who has gone out on a limb to issue marriage license to gay and lesbian couples in spite of a state law that defines marriage between one man and one woman.
I profiled Hanes in today's Inquirer, and I'm getting a lot of comments from people who say they don't care about gay marriage, but they oppose an elected official taking the law into his own hands. Others, especially same-sex couples, are praising Hanes as a courageous man whose actions may expand civil rights in the state.
Hanes is being sued by the Corbett administration to halt the licenses. Montgomery County has filed a response to the lawsuit, but so far no judge has weighed in, and licenses are still going out. Some couples have come from as far as Pittsburgh to get a marriage license, which can then be used by an officiant anywhere in the state.
It'll be interesting to see how many people show up for today's rally, and how that compares to the anti-same-sex-marriage rally held last week. That "pray in" drew only 13 protesters.