Given the decisions regarding Same Sex Marriage handed down by the Supreme Court of the United States in Hollingsworth v. Perry and United States v. Windsor, the issue of Same Sex Marriage at the state level has become increasingly important.

Two recent developments have taken place in Pennsylvania which will bring the issue to a head.

First, the ACLU filed suit in Pennsylvania on behalf of twenty one plaintiffs, who want to marry in Pennsylvania or who want to have their out of state marriages recognized within the Commonwealth.

Additionally, D. Bruce Hanes, the Register of Wills in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, announced that Montgomery County will begin issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples in Pennsylvania.  This, despite that Pennsylvania has a state law that limits marriage to one man and one woman.  And, as of the morning of July 24, 2013, one license had been issued to a same sex couple.