Two women who wed in Massachusetts before moving to Pennsylvania asked a federal court on Thursday to force their new home state to recognize the marriage, as it does for opposite-sex couples.
The plaintiffs, Isabelle Barker and Cara Palladino, say they are being denied about 600 marriage-related benefits, from filing joint state tax returns to co-owning property. They also have encountered reams of paperwork for health care coverage and prepared legal documents to protect the interests of their son — red tape they say would not be needed if their marriage was recognized.
‘‘My Massachusetts marriage certificate is the same as any other couple that comes from Massachusetts,’’ Palladino said. ‘‘It seems to me that that’s the essence of discrimination. If you’re taking the same piece of paper and you’re treating it differently because of our status, that doesn’t seem fair.’’
Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without same-sex marriage or civil unions. Like 36 other states, it also does not recognize gay marriages performed legally in other jurisdictions. The lawsuit filed Thursday asks a judge to declare unconstitutional the state law barring recognition of such unions.
They knew where Pennsylvania stood on this issue before they moved there. I see it as a States Rights issue.
If you don't like the laws...MOVE OUT or fight to change it at the ballot box.
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1 comment:
I heard about this one; it takes the buscuit.
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