Rep. Brian Sims believes the
legalization of gay marriage is “inevitable” in Pennsylvania.
Sims, one of two openly gay legislators
in the General Assembly, made his remarks Wednesday during an
appearance on WESA, Pittsburgh's NPR station.
“The larger question obviously is
'when?' and 'under what conditions?'” he
said. “But I have zero doubt … that Pennsylvania ultimately
will have marriage equality.”
Last month, Sims and Rep. Steve
McCarter introduced a bill which seeks to make Pennsylvania the 14th
state to legalize gay marriage. But with Republicans in control of
both houses and a Republican governor publicly opposed to marriage
equality, passage seems unlikely.
Legalization would more likely come
from the courts. Pennsylvania has been pelted in recent months with
half-a-dozen filings challenging its law limiting marriage to
heterosexual unions. Cases have been filed in state and federal
courts. Several cases ask for the state to recognize marriage
licenses acquired by gay couples in Montgomery County. The governor
has sued to block the county from issuing such licenses.