A second lawsuit challenging Pennsylvania's gay marriage ban was
filed on Wednesday in Commonwealth Court.
The suit follows a challenge filed two months earlier in federal
court.
Plaintiffs in the new lawsuit include twenty-one gay and lesbian
couples who married in the state after receiving marriage licenses in
Montgomery County, which began issuing such licenses in defiance of
state law in July. A court has ordered the county to stop issuing
marriage licenses to gay couples. Montgomery County Register of
Wills Bruce Hanes announced that he would issue the licenses after
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane refused to defend the
state's law in the original lawsuit and stated her belief that the
law was unconstitutional.
(Related: Pennsylvania
clerk to appeal ruling blocking issuance of gay marriage licenses.)
In addition to claiming that the law violates the federal
constitution, the new challenge claims that it also violates the
Pennsylvania Constitution, the AP reported.
(Related: Pennsylvania
pastor fired after marrying gay couple.)