Whitewood et al v. Corbett -- Complaint

7/28/2019 Whitewood et al v. Corbett -- Complaint

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INTHEUNITEDSTATESDISTRICTCOURTFORTHEMIDDLEDISTRICTOFPENNSYLVANIA

DEBWHITEWOnDndSUSANWHITEWOOD,FREDIAHURDLEnd LYNNHURDLE,EDWINILL, ndDAVIDPALMER,HEATHERPOEHLERndKATHPOEHI, ER,FERNANDOCHANG-MUY ndLEN IESER,DAWNLUMMERndDIANAPOLSON,ANGELAGILLEM ndGAILLLOYD,HELENAMILLERndDARARASPBERRY,RONGEBHARDTSBAUERndGREGWRIGHT,MARLACATTERMOLEndJULIALOBUR,MAUREENHENNESSEY,andA.W.AND.W.,minorc h i l d r e n , by andthrought h e i r p a r e n t s a n d . next r i e n d s , DEBWHITEWOODndSUSAN WHITEWOOD,

P l a i n t i f f s ,

v .

THOMASW.CORBETT,n h i s o f f i c i a lc a p a c i t y a s Gove rnorof e n n s y l v a n i a ;MICHAELWOLF,n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t yS e c r e t a r y ofh e P e n n s y l v a n i a De part me nt ofH e a l t h ; KATHI.,EENKANE,n h e r o f f i c i a lc a p a c i t y a s A t t o r n e y Generalofe n n s y l v a n i a ;MARYOPOKNIS,n h e r o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y a sR e g i s t e r of i l l s ofWash ing t onCounty; andDONALDETRILLE,R . , i n h i s o f f i c i a lc a p a c i t y a s R e g i s t e r of i l l s and C l e r k ofOrphans'Cou rtof BucksCounty,

De fendants.

C i v i l ActionNo.

COMPLAINTFORDECLARATORYANDINJUNCTIVERELIEF


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5 . P l a i n t i f f s A.W.ndK.W. r e t h e c h i l d r e n ofneofh e p l a i n t i f fc o u p l e s . The a c t t h a t t h e i r p a r e n t s a r e n o t p e r m i t t e d t o marryharmsthem

m a t e r i a l l y by e d u c i n g f a m i l y r e s o u r c e s and t i g m a t i z e s thembydenyingt h e i r

family s o c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n and e s p e c t .6. The l a i n t i f f s com e from c r o s s t h e Com m onwealth,a i l i n g from

P h i l a d e l p h i a , Downingtown,angor,a r r i s b u r g , S t a t e C o l l e g e , and i t t s b u r g h .

They com efrom l l walksof i f e : t h e y i n c l u d e anemergency r oom o c t o r ,

u n i v e r s i t y p r o f e s s o r s , a r u c k d r i v e r , an x e c u t i v e a t BNYellon, s y c h o l o g i s t , .a dog r a i n e r , s t a t e employees,a w y e r s , an r t i s t , astay-at-homemom,nd e t i r e e s .

On eofh e p l a i n t i f f s s e r v e d i n t h e Navy n Vietnam;n o t h e r i s a12- y e a r v e t e r a n of

t h e Ar m y.The l a i n t i f f s r e f l e c t t h e r i c h d i v e r s i t y ofh e Com monwealth:t h e y a r e

A f r i c a n-American,a u c a s i a n , L a t i n o , andA s i a n ; t h e y a r e M e t h o d i s t , a p t i s t ,

C a t h o l i c , Quaker,e w i s h , B u d d h i s t , and e c u l a r . Manyave been o g e t h e r f o r

d e c a d e s , andsom e r e r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n t o g e t h e r . The i t u a t i o n s f a c e d by h e s e

coup lesa r e s i m i l a r t o t h o s e f a c e d b y h e t h o u s a n d s ofam e- s e x c o u p l e s i n

Pennsylv ania who r e b e i n g d e n i e d t h e b a s i c r i g h t s t h a t a r e a f f o r d e d by a r r i a g e .

7 . The l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s , i k e o t h e r committed o u p l e s , have a r e d f o r

each t h e r , s u p p o r t e d each t h e r , a c r i f i c e d f o r eacho t h e r , and m ade l a n s f o r t h e

f u t u r e w i t h eacho t h e r . Somehaveenduredg r e a t c h a l l e n g e s andh a r d s h i p s

t o g e t h e r , sucha s f i n a n c i a l t r o u b l e s and e r i o u s i l l n e s s . M aureenHennessey's

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commitment o her spouse endured through h e r s p o u s e ' s f o u r y e a r b a t t l e w i t hcancer a nd untimely d e a t h .

8 . Like o t h e r c o u p l e s who a ve m a d e a i f e t i m e commitment o eacho t h e r , t h e p l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s a r e spouses i n every s e n s e , except h a t Pennsylvania

l a w says they cannot marry and, f they a r e m a r r i e d under h e laws of n o t h e r s t a t e ,

t h e i r m a r r i a g e s a r e not honored h e r e .

9. Th e Commonwealth's x c l u s i o n of a me- s e x c o u p l e s from marriagea d v e r s e l y impacts h e p l a i n t i f f s a nd s a me- s e x c o u p l e s a c r o s s t h e Commonwealth ns i g n i f i c a n t ways. I t excludes them from t h e m an y e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s a v a i l a b l e t os p o u s e s . For example, w hen one p a r t n e r d i e s , t h e s u r v i v i n g p a r t n e r may a c es e r i o u s f i n a n c i a l h a r d s h i p , i n c l u d i n g t h e l o s s of e r home, ecause she i s denied

t h e i n h e r i t a n c e t a x exemption provided t o widows. Lesbian a nd g a y p o l i c e

o f f i c e r s , f i r e f i g h t e r s a nd o t h e r f i r s t r e s p o n d e r s a r e denied t h e peace of mind of

knowing h a t i f they m a k e h e u l t i m a t e s a c r i f i c e , t h e i r p a r t n e r w i l l be taken c a r e ofthrough t h e f i n a n c i a l s u p p o r t a v a i l a b l e t o h e l p t h o s e who o s t t h e i r spouses i n

s e r v i c e t o t h e community. Because of e n n s y l v a n i a ' s r e f u s a l t o allow o r r e c o g n i z e

t h e i r m a r r i a g e s , s a me- s e x couples a r e a l s o denied m an y e d e r a l p r o t e c t i o n sa f f o r d e d t o married couples such a s t h e a b i l i t y t o t a k e time off work o c a r e f o r a

s i c k spouse under h e Family Medical Leave Act a nd a c c e s s t o a p o u s e ' s s o c i a l

s e c u r i t y r e t i r e m e n t b e n e f i t s .

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does not depend o n m a i n t a i n i n g such d i s c r i m i n a t o r y l a w s . To h e c o n t r a r y ,e l i m i n a t i n g t h e s e u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l a s p e c t s o f a r r i a g e has enhanced t h e i n s t i t u t i o n .

Ending t h e e x c l u s i o n o f e s b i a n an d gay c o u p l e s from m a r r i a g e i s n o d i f f e r e n t .I n d e e d , i n 13 s t a t e s a n d t h e D i s t r i c t o f Columbia, s a m e- s e x c o u p l e s a r e m a r r y i n gan d t h e i n s t i t u t i o n o f a r r i a g e c o n t i n u e s t o t h r i v e .

1 3 . This i s b e c a u s e , a t i t s h e a r t , m a r r i a g e i s b o t h a p e r s o n a l an d a p u b l i cc o m m i t me n t o f wo p e o p l e t o on e a n o t h e r , l i c e n s e d b y t h e s t a t e . Throughm a r r i a g e , h e C o m m o n w e a l t h r e c o g n i z e s a c o u p l e ' s d e c i s i o n t o e s t a b l i s h a a m i l yu n i t t o g e t h e r a n d s u p p o r t o n e a n o t h e r and a n y c h i l d r e n o f h e m a r r i a g e .

1 4 . Marriage c o n t r i b u t e s t o t h e h a p p i n e s s o f o u n t l e s s c o u p l e s and t h e i rf a m i l i e s an d a l s o c o n t r i b u t e s t o s o c i e t y . P e n n s y l v a n i a , l i k e o t h e r s t a t e s ,encourages an d r e g u l a t e s m a r r i a g e t h r o u g h hundreds o f aws h a t p r o v i d e b e n e f i t st o an d impose o b l i g a t i o n s o n m a r r i e d c o u p l e s . I n exchange, h e Commonwea lth.r e c e i v e s t h e w e l l- e s t a b l i s h e d b e n e f i t s t h a t m a r r i a g e b r i n g s : s t a b l e , s u p p o r t i v e

f a m i l i e s t h a t c o n t r i b u t e t o b o t h t h e s o c i a l an d economic w e l l - b e i n g o f h eC o m m o nw e a l t h .

1 5 . P e n n s y l v a n i a ' s e x c l u s i o n of a me- s e x c o u p l e s from m a r r i a g ei n f r i n g e s o n h e Du e r o c e s s Clause a n d t h e Equal P r o t e c t i o n C l a u s e o f h eF o u r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t o t h e United S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n . This d i s c r i m i n a t o r yt r e a t m e n t i s s u b j e c t t o h e i g h t e n e d s c r u t i n y because t burdens t h e fundamental r i g h t

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t o marryandb e c a u s e i t d i s c r i m i n a t e s b a s e d on s e x ands e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n . Butt

c a n n o t s t a n d u n d e r anyl e v e l ofc r u t i n y b e c a u s e t h e e x c l u s i o n does n o t r a t i o n a l l y

f u r t h e r any e g i t i m a t e government n t e r e s t . I t s e r v e s o n l y t o d i s p a r a g e andi n j u r e

l e s b i a n and gayc o u p l e s andt h e i r f a m i l i e s .1 6 . P l a i n t i f f s b r i n g t h i s s u i t p u r s u a n t t o 42U. S.C. 1983 o r d e c l a r a t o r y

andi n j u n c t i v e r e l i e f a g a i n s t d e f e n d a n t s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , p l a i n t i f f s s e e k : (a)

d e c l a r a t i o n t h a t t h e Commonwealth's r o h i b i t i o n of a r r i a g e f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s

and t s r e f u s a l t o r e c o g n i z e m a r r i a g e s ofsame- s e x c o u p l e s v a l i d l y e n t e r e d i n t oo u t s i d e ofh e Com mon we a lth i o l a t e t h e Du e r o c e s s C l a u s e and h e EqualP r o t e c t i o n C l a u s e ofh e F o u r t e e n t h Am e n d m e n t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n ;

and(b) permanent n j u n c t i o n i ) p r e v e n t i n g d e f e n d a n t s fromd e n y i n g t h e p l a i n t i f f

c o u p l e s and l l o t h e r sa m e- s e x c o u p l e s o t h e r w i s e e l i g i b l e t o marry t h e r i g h t t o

marryi n t h e Comm on we althofe n n s y l v a n i a , and i ) d i r e c t i n g d e f e n d a n t s t o

r e c o g n i z e t h e m a r r i a g e s ofh e p l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s ando t h e r same- s e x c o u p l e s v a l i d l y

e n t e r e d i n t o o u t s i d e ofe n n s y l v a n i a .THEARTIES

P l a i n t i f f s

De ba n d Susan Whitewooda n d A.W. a n d K. .1 7 . P l a i n t i f f s De bWhitewood"Deb") ndSusanWhitewood "Susan")

havel i v e d t o g e t h e r a committedr e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 22 e a r s . De band Susan i v e

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i n B r i d g e v i l l e , i n Allegheny County, i t h t h e i r t h r e e c h i l d r e n . Susan, 49, s ah u m a n r e s o u r c e s e x e c u t i v e a tBNY ellon. Deb, 5, s a s t a y - a t - h o m e mom. e b

wa s born a nd r a i s e d i n P i t t s b u r g h . Susan has l i v e d i n P e n n s y l v a n i a s i n c e a t t e n d i n gc o l l e g e i n P i t t s b u r g h .

1 8 . De b and Susan have t wo d a u g h t e r s , l a i n t i f f A.W. , wh o s 16, an dP l a i n t i f f A . W . , who i l l t u r n 15 t h i s month. De b i s t h e c h i l d r e n ' s b i o l o g i c a lmother and Susan o b t a i n e d second p a r e n t a d o p t i o n s a f t e r t h e c h i l d r e n ' s b i r t h s t oe s t a b l i s h a l e g a l p a r e n t- c h i l d r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h b o t h c h i l d r e n . Deb, n d S u s a n a l s ohave a t w o - y e a r - o l d son,L.W. He a s p l a c e d w i t h the m by t h e Allegheny CountyDepartment o f h i l d r e n and Youth S e r v i c e s w h e n h e wa s 1 1 months o l d . Th eplacement n i t i a l l y wa s a o s t e r p l a c e m e n t . When . W. wa s 20 months o l d , De band Susan o i n t l y adopted him. Th e judge i n t h e Allegheny C o u n t y C h i l d r e n ' sCourt g r a n t e d t h e a d o p t i o n a f t e r d e t e r m i n i n g t h a t t h e w e l f a r e ofL.W. i l l bepromoted by t h i s a d o p t i o n .

1 9 . De b and Susan a r e v e r y i n v o l v e d i n t h e i r c h i l d r e n ' s s c h o o l anda c t i v i t i e s . Susan has coached t h e i r v o l l e y b a l l a nd s o f t b a l l t e a m s . When h e g i r l s

were younger, De b wa s a c t i v e i n t h e PTA n d wa s t h e "classroom mom" h op l a n n e d a c t i v i t i e s a nd p a r t i e s f o r t h e c l a s s and chaperoned f i e l d t r i p s . De b i sc u r r e n t l y c h a i r o f h e band f e s t i v a l , which r a i s e s most of h e m o n e y o s u p p o r t t h eh i g h s c h o o l band. S h e a l s o c o o r d i n a t e s t h e c o n c e s s i o n s t a n d a t v o l l e y b a l l games.

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20. Deb. ndSusana r e devout h r i s t i a n s andtheyandt h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e

membersofanda c t i v e l y involvedi n t h e C h r i s t UnitedMethodistChurchof ethel

Park.Debs thep r e s i d e n t o fh e A l t a r . Guild,whichp r e p a r e s t h e c h u r c h ' s

communi o n,a r e s f o r the sanctuaryandholyi t e m s , andd e c o r a t e s f o r t h e h o l i d a y s .

A.W.ndK.W. r e i n thechurchc h o i r ands i n g everySunday.A.W.s a l s o i n t h e

YouthP r a i s e band,whichs i n g s contemporaryC h r i s t i a n songsa t c hurc handa t

communi t y performanc es .21. In1993,DebandSusanhadaHoly U nionceremony a t t h e c hurc h

theya t t e n d e d a t t h e time. Th ey bothchangedt h e i r l a s t names o Whi tewood,a

combinationofh e i r surnames.Th ey e n t e r e d i n t o a i v i l unioni n Vermont f t e r

t h a t becamep o s s i b l e .22. DebandSusanwouldl i k e tobea b l e toget marriedi n o r d e r t o have

thel e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s marriedcouples r e l y on.Th ey a r e f e a r f u l o fh o w theymi ght

bet r e a t e d i n a timeofr i s i s andt h e r e f o r e had alawyerdraw up powers oft t o r n e y

f o r them,whichtheyc a r r y witht h emeverywhere

23. Ina d d i t i o n , thee x c l u s i o n frommarriagei m p a c t s . h e family

f i n a n c i a l l y . Th e h e a l t h insuranceDebe t s fromS u s a r i ' s company s t a x a b l e

incomet h a t c o s t s t h emapproximately$1,600ay e a r ; i f theywerem a r r i e d , t would

notbet a x e d . Moreover, f anythingweret o happen toSusan,Debwouldbe

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denied Susan's s o c i a l s e c u r i t y a n d s he would have t o pa y a 15% n h e r i t a n c e t a x onh a l f of h e c o u p l e ' s j o i n t p r o p e r t y , a t a x from which spouses a r e exempt.

24. De b a n d S u s a n a l s o w a n t o be a b l e t o marry because t h e y a r econcerned t h a t t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e being t a u g h t t h e me s s a g e t h a t t h e i r family i s l e s s

d e s e r v i n g of e s p e c t a n d s u p p o r t than o t h e r f a m i l i e s .25. On une 24, 2013, h e y w e nt o t h e o f f i c e of h e R e g i s t e r of i l l s of

Wa s hington County t o apply f o r a m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e . Th e R e g i s t e r of i l l s r e f u s e dt h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n f o r a marriage l i c e n s e because they a r e a s a m e-s ex c o u p l e .

26. A.W. n d K.W. re w u p assuming t h a t t h e i r moms e re m a r r i e d . As

they got o l d e r a n d c a m e o l e a r n t h a t t h e i r p a r e n t s were not allowed t o marry i nPennsylvania, both g i r l s f e l t t h a t t h i s wa s u n f a i r t o t h e whole f a m i l y . They knowthey a r e a f a m i l y a n d w a nt o be l e g a l l y r e c o g n i z e d a s one. Th ey b e l i e v e theyshould not be d e p r i v e d of conomic r e s o u r c e s a v a i l a b l e t o f a m i l i e s hea ded by

married c o u p l e s . And hey f e e l s t i g m a t i z e d by t h e f a c t t h a t t h e i r p a r e n t s a r e

excluded from m a r r i a g e . They b e l i e v e t h a t a l l o w i n g t h e i r p a r e n t s t o marry woulddemonstrate t h a t s o c i e t y a c c e p t s t h e i r f a m i l y a n d c o n s i d e r s i t worthy of e s p e c t .

Fredia a n d Ly n n H u ~ c l l e27. P l a i n t i f f s F r e d i a Hurdle "Fredia") a n d Lynn Hurdle "Lyn n " ) f

P i t t s b u r g h have l i v e d t o g e t h e r i n a committed r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 22 e a r s . F r e d i a , 49,

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i s a memberofh e T e a m s t e r s ' Unionandd r i v e s a r u c k f o r t h e P i t t s b u r g h P o s t-

G a z e t t e . Lynn,3,s a e d i a t r i c n u r s e .

28. F r e d i a andLynnmet n 1990whenF r e d i a was aGreyhoundbus

d r i v e r andLynn wasap a s s e n g e r . F r e d i a had beena s s i g n e d t o anewr o u t e and

Lynn r i e d t o h e l p h e r out w i t h d i r e c t i o n s . Theyendedupd a t i n g v i a Greyhound

f o r about i v e months n t i l F r e d i a moved o P i t t s b u r g h .29. F r e d i a andLynn's a m i l y i n c l u d e s Lynn'sd a u g h t e r Ashley, now25,

whoi v e d w i t h F r e d i a and Lynnfromt h e time shewastwoy e a r s o l d u n t i l shewent o c o l l e g e . A f t e r F r e d i a ' s s i s t e r d i e d , twoofr e d i a ' s nephewsanda i e c e

came o l i v e w i t h F r e d i a andLynn n t i l t h e y wereready o moveout on h e i r own.

One fh e boys i v e d w i t h t hemf o r 9e a r s .

30. F r e d i a and Lynna r e c a r e g i v e r s by a t u r e andhavebecomeknown

l o c a l l y a s t h e c o u p l e p e o p l e go o when h e r e a r e p e o p l e i n needofa r e . They

tookc a r e ofwo h i l d r e n i n t h e neighborhood when h e i r f a m i l i e s weregoing

throughd i f f i c u l t t i m e s . Andane l d e r l y f a m i l y f r i e n d of ynn'sl i v e d w i t h F r e d i a

andLynn,who o o k e d a f t e r h e r f o r 16y e a r s u n t i l shep a s s e d away.

31. F r e d i a andLynn hadacommitmentceremonya t achurchi n 2009.

More h a n 200 r i e n d s and a m i l y members e l e b r a t e d w i t h them. Lynntook

F r e d i a ' s l a s t name.

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32. F r e d i a and Lynn want o g e t m a r r i e d b e c a u s e t h e y l o v e each o t h e r andb e l i e v e t h a t f a m i l i e s s h o u l d be r e c o g n i z e d t h r o u g h m a r r i a g e . Because t h e y c a n n o t

be m a r r i e d , w h e n F r e d i a w as h o s p i t a l i z e d f o r emergency g a l l b l a d d e r s u r g e r y , t h en u r s e s r e f u s e d t o g i v e Lynn any i n f o r m a t i o n about F r e d i a ' s c o n d i t i o n b e c a u s e s h ewa s n o t c o n s i d e r e d f a m i l y . W h e n F r e d i a h ad t o undergo m e d i c a l t e s t i n g a f t e r ani n j u r y , Lynn w as not a l l o w e d t o be p r e s e n t b e c a u s e s h e w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d ar e l a t i v e . Because o f h e s e e x p e r i e n c e s , h e y h i r e d an a t t o r n e y t o p r e p a r e powers o fa t t o r n e y f o r them, which t h e y c a r r y w i t h t hem a t a l l t i m e s .

33. Th e e x c l u s i o n from m a r r i a g e h a s a l s o mea n t h a t Lynn h ad t o gow i t h o u t h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e f o r a b o u t 3 e a r s b e c a u s e h e r job d i d n o t o f f e r h e a l t hb e n e f i t s and F r e d i a c o u l d n o t add Lynn t o h e r employee h e a l t h p l a n . During h a tt i m e , Lynn h ad an a c c i d e n t i n which s h e i n j u r e d h e r s h o u l d e r and h ad t o pay a b o u t$2,000 i n h o s p i t a l b i l l s .

34. Because t h e y c a n n o t be m a r r i e d i n P e n n s y l v a n i a , h e c o u p l e w o r r i e sa b o u t h o w Lynn w i l l s u p p o r t h e r s e l f f F r e d i a p a s s e s a w a y i r s t b e c a u s e Lynnwould n o t be a b l e t o count o n F r e d i a ' s s o c i a l s e c u r i t y ( F r e d i a e a r n s a l a r g e r incomet h a n Lynn) r p e n s i o n f o r s u p p o r t .

3 . F r e d i a and Lynn a l s o f e e l t h a t t h e e x c l u s i o n from m a r r i a g e s t i g m a t i z e st h e m and o t h e r l e s b i a n and gay c o u p l e s and s e n d s t h e message t h a t t h e y a r e n o te n t i t l e d t o t h e s a m e r e s p e c t o t h e r c o u p l e s e n j o y . As an i n t e r r a c i a l c o u p l e , F r e d i a

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andLynna r e very aware h a t b e f o r e t h e SupremeC o u r t ' s h i s t o r i c d e c i s i o n i n

Lo ving . V i r g i n i a , they wouldhav e be e nb a r r e d frommar ry ingbase don h e i r

r a c e s . Ands anA f r i c a n American who rew up n V i r g i n i a anda t t e n d e d as e g r e g a t e d schoolu n t i l t h i r d g r a d e , F r e d i a hasexperienced t h e pro founds o c i a l and

d i g n i t a r y harms h a t come with d i s c r i m i n a t i o n . She and Lynn p ray t h a t t h e y w i l l

soonbe p e r m i t t e d t o mar r y andbe r e a t e d as u l l ande qual c i t i z e n s i n

P e n n s y l v a n i a .

EdwinHill andDavid al`ne~36. P l a i n t i f f s Edwin i l l ("Ed")ndDavid Palmer "David") av e l i v e d

t o g e t h e r i n ac o mm it t e dr e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 25y e a r s . Ed,7, andDav id,65, i v e i n

Bangor, n NorthamptonCo unt y , h e town wherethe y met n 1988w h i l e a t t e n d i n g

a C h r i s t i a n r e t r e a t .37. BothEd nd Davidwere bo r n and r a i s e d i n P e n n s y l v a n i a . Edrewup

j u s t o u t s i d e ofi t t s b u r g h andg r a d u a t e d from h e - U n i v e r s i t y ofi t t s b u r g h . David

i s , f r o m T r u c k s v i l l e , u s t o u t s i d e ofWilkes-Barre ,andhe s a r a d u a t e ofW il ke s

U n i v e r s i t y . Hel s o holds a a s t e r s ' degr eei n the ology from Drew n i v e r s i t y .

38. Bothmenr e r e t i r e d . Ed s av e t e r a n o fh e Unite dS t a t e s Navy,

hav ings e r v e d from1968 o 1971.He e r v e d i n Vietnam a s asonar t e c h n i c i a n

aboardt h e U.S.S.Brooke.Hel s o worked f o r o v e r 20 e a r s a t t h e De p ar tme nt of

Vete ransA f f a i r s whereheoversawp r o gr ams o supportv e t e r a n s . Davidworkeda t

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a museum f o r 30 e a r s , e v e n t u a l l y o b t a i n i n g t h e p o s i t i o n of i r e c t o r ofE x h i b i t i o n s . I n 1996, f t e r t h e y r e t i r e d from t h e i r c a r e e r s , David and Ed opened

t h e Arrowheart n n , a bed and b r e a k f a s t i n Bangor, which t h e y r a n f o r 1 2 e a r su n t i l , a s t h e y s a y , t h e y r e t i r e d " f o r r e a l " i n 2008.

39. Ed and David were m a r r i e d on May 0, 2013, n Kennebunk, Maine,accompanied by a few of h e i r d e a r e s t f r i e n d s and members ofEd's a m i l y w h ol i v e i n Maine. T h e i r m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e w as w i t n e s s e d by Ed's n i n e t y- y e a r- o l d a u n tand David's o l d e s t f r i e n d . They would have p r e f e r r e d t o marry i n t h e i r home t a t eof e n n s y l v a n i a , where more of h e i r f r i e n d s and f a m i l y could h a v e - o i n e d i n t h e i rc e l e b r a t i o n . But f t e r 25 y e a r s t o g e t h e r , t h e y d i d . not want o w a i t any o n g e r t om a r r y . A n d s s e n i o r s , t h e y w o r r i e d t h a t t h e y might not i v e t o s e e t h e day w hent h e y c o u l d marry a t home. S i n c e t h e y c o u l d n ' t have h e i r wedding i nP e n n s y l v a n i a , t h e y a r e p l a n n i n g a a r t y i n t h e i r home t o w n n August o r moret h a n s e v e n t y f a m i l y members and f r i e n d s t o c e l e b r a t e t h e i r 25th a n n i v e r s a r y a s a

c o u p l e .

40. Even f t e r a u a r t e r c e n t u r y t o g e t h e r , t h e a c t of marrying has had aprofound impact on Ed and David. I t meant h e world t o them t o be a b l e t o s t a n db e f o r e l o v e d ones and d e c l a r e t h e i r l o v e and commitment and o be a b l e t o c a l l . one

a n o t h e r husband.

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41. However,EdandDavidc a n n o t e n j o y t h e p r o t e c t i o n s ands e c u r i t y t h a t

m a r r i a g e b r i n g s o t h e r c o u p l e s b e c a u s e t h e i r m a r r i a g e i s n o t r e c o g n i z e d i n t h e i r

home t a t e of e n n s y l v a n i a . Likemany e n i o r s on f i x e d incomes, h e y a r e

c o n c e r n e d aboutm anaging i n a n c i a l l y i n t h e i r r e t i r e m e n t . Theya r e e s p e c i a l l y

w o r r i e d about h e f a c t t h a t whenoneof hem p a s s e s away,h e widowerw i l l be

d e n i e d t h e e s t a t e t a x p r o t e c t i o n s P e n n s y l v a n i a lawp r o v i d e s t o m a r r i e d c o u p l e s .

Any n h e r i t a n c e from onet o t h e o t h e r i n c l u d i n g oneh a l f ofh e v a l u e ofh e i r

homeand o i n t b ank a c c o u n t s willbet a x e d a t t h e r a t e of15%,h e h i g h e s t r a t e .I f h e i r m a r r i a g e werer e c o g n i z e d , h e r e wou ldben osucht a x . Edand Davidhave

workedh a r d t o s a v e e x t r a money o r r e t i r e m e n t s o t h a t n e i t h e r ofhem w i l l be

f o r c e d o u t ofh e i r homeduet o t h e l a r g e t a x b i l l t h a t w i l l come whenoneofhem

p a s s e s . Bu t o s i n g sucha a r g e s h a r e ofh e f a m i l y ' s a s s e t s w i l l s i g n i f i c a n t l y

r e d u c e t h e econom ic s e c u r i t y ofh e s u r v i v i n g s p o u s e andt h e s t a n d a r d ofi v i n g he

w i l l havef o r t h e r e s t ofi s y e a r s .4 2 : Ednd David havet a l k e d a b o u t m ovin g t o a n o t h e r s t a t e where h e i r

m a r r i a g e wou ld b er e c o g n i z e d andt h e y wou ld havem ore i n a n c i a l s e c u r i t y . Bu t

t h e y d onotwant o l e a v e t h e i r homeand com m u nity.Theywa n t o growo l d

t o g e t h e r i n t h e p l a c e wheret h e y m et w e n t y - f i v e y e a r s a g o .

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Heather and Kath Poehler43. P l a i n t i f f s H e a t h e r P o e h l e r ("Heather") and K a t h e r i n e P o e h l e r

("Kath") have i v e d t o g e t h e r i n a committed r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 10 e a r s . H e a t h e r , 44,and Kath, 1, i v e i n Downingtown, n C h e s t e r County. They i v e o f f a c o u n t r yr o a d on 8 c r e s of a n d w i t h t h r e e dogs h a t t h e y r e s c u e d from an animal h e l t e r ,two c a t s , and seven c h i c k e n s . Heather s a Medicaid L i a i s o n Manager t ah e a l t h c a r e a u d i t i n g f i r m . Kath owns a do g r a i n i n g and do g w a l k i n g b u s i n e s s .

44. On eptember 1 0 , . 2 0 0 5 , Heather and Kath got a r r i e d i nM a s s a c h u s e t t s , h e i r h o m e t a t e a t t h e t i m e . Heather changed h e r l a s t name os h a r e K a t h ' s .

45. In 2007, u r i n g d i f f i c u l t economic i m e s , Heather was f f e r e d ap r o m i s i n g job i n P h i l a d e l p h i a and h e c o u p l e r e l o c a t e d t h e r e . Going from b e i n g

t r e a t e d a s t h e m a r r i e d c o u p l e t h a t t h e y a r e i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s t o b e i n g t r e a t e d a s

l e g a l s t r a n g e r s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a has been h a r d f o r them o g i s t i c a l l y , f i n a n c i a l l y , ande m o t i o n a l l y . For example, h e y had d i f f i c u l t y p r e p a r i n g t h e i r t a x r e t u r n s and

c o m p l e t i n g mortgage paperwork n P e n n s y l v a n i a b e c a u s e a c c o u n t a n t s and bank

o f f i c i a l s were u n s u r e whether o t r e a t t h e c o u p l e a s m a r r i e d o r u n m a r r i e d . They

pay more o r h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e t h a n t h e y would f h e i r m a r r i a g e were r e c o g n i z e d i nP e n n s y l v a n i a because h e y must pay a x e s on h e h e a l t h i n s u r a n c e f o r Kath h a tHeather g e t s through h e r employer.

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46. Having h e i r marriage d i s r e g a r d e d bytheCommonwealthhasa l s o

takena n emotional o l l on h e c o u p l e . I t i s p a i n f u l not o be r e s p e c t e d a s amarried

coupleor recognizedasa a m i l y . Andheyf e e l v u l n e r a b l e about what could

happen n timesofr i s i s . They e l t e s p e c i a l l y anxiousl a s t yearwhenHeat h er

un d e r we n t u r g e r i e s f o r abr ok en l e g a n d Kathh a d t o be h o s p i t a l i z e d f o r a e v e r e

a l l e r g i c r e a c t i o n . Be cau s e t h ey a r e notrecognizedasspousesi n Pennsylvania,

n e i t h e r i s a u t o m a t i c a l l y l e g a l l y a u t h o r i z e d t o make medicald e c i s i o n s f o r t h e o t h e r

i f n e c e s s a r y . I n s t e a d , wit he ach r i p t o t h e h o s p i t a l ord o c t o r , theyh a v eh a d t o

e x p l a i n t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p andpr ov e t w i t h paperwork.

47. Heath erandKathh a v ed ev elopedr o o t s i n Pennsylvania.I t has

become h e i r home.Theidea of aving o l e a v e t h e communitythey lovei n o r d e r

toh a v e h e i r marriager e s p e c t e d sadd ens t h em.

FernandoChangMuyndLeniese~48. P l a i n t i f f s Fe r n a n d o Chang-Muy"Fer nan d o")andLen i e s e r ("Len")

h a v el i v e d t o g e t h e r i n aco m m i t t e d r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 32e a r s . Fernand o, whos 58,

wasbor ni n Cubaandemigrat edt o t h e UnitedS t a t e s wit hh i s familywhenh e was

a h i l d . Len,4, grewup n Vermont.Thecouple movedtoP h i l a d e l p h i a i n 1 9 8 2 . ,

whenFernand owas f f e r e d a obt h e r e . P h i l a d e l p h i a has be e n h e i r homeever

s i n c e .


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More m p o r t a n t l y , Fernandoan dLenknow h a t i f h e y c o u l d m a r r y , t wouldmean

a o t t o t h e i r d a u g h t e r , whowouldl i k e h e r p a r e n t s t o be m a r r i e d t o e a c h o t h e r .

5 3 . Whens a b e l wasgrowing u p , t was m p o r t a n t t o FernandoandLen

f o r h e r t o havet h e same e n s e o fe c u r i t y t h a t a nyo t h e r c h i l d g e t s fromb e i n g p a r t

o f a l o v i n g f a m i l y . FernandoandLen madea p o i n t , when s a b e l was n

e l e m e n t a r y a n ds e c o n d a r y s c h o o l , o fmakings u r e h e r t e a c h e r s u n d e r s t o o d t h a t t h e y

werea a m i l y andt h a t t h e y d e s i r e d t o bea c t i v e i n t h e s c h o o l co mmun ity u s t l i k e

a nyo t h e r p a r e n t s . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y m a n a g e d t o f i n d s c h o o l p e r s o n n e l whowoulds u p p o r t them, s w e l l a s h e a l t h c a r e p r o v i d e r s , a e l i g i o u s community, e i g h b o r s ,

and o t h e r e s s e n t i a l componentso fh e i r l i v e s a s a a m i l y .

5 4 . FernandoandLen e c o g n i z e t h a t eveni f t h e y hadbeena b l e t o be

m a r r i e d , t h e p r o c e s s ofs t a b l i s h i n g t h e m s e l v e s andt h e i r d a u g h t e r a s a a m i l y

would t i l l havehad t s c h a l l e n g e s , a s t h e y know h a t t h e r e a r e p e o p l e who

d i s a p p r o v e o fe l a t i o n s h i p s sucha s t h e i r s . Buth e y a r e c o n v i n c e d t h a t i f m a r r i a g e

hadbeena v a i l a b l e t o the m,a majorb a r r i e r t o t h e i r a c c e p t a n c e andw e l l - b e i n g a s a

f a m i l y wouldhavebeenremoved, and h a t , even n o w , . h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f a r r i a g e

wo uldmakea s i g n i f i c a n t , p o s i t i v e d i f f e r e n c e t o t h e i r l i f e a s a a m i l y .

5 5 . Moreover, s l a w y e r s , FernandoandLen r e awareo fhow v u l n e r a b l e

t h e y a r e b e c a u s e t h e y a r e . e x c l u d e d fr omt h e many e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s of a r r i a g e .

They havedonee v e r y t h i n g t h a t l a w y e r s cand o t o p r o t e c t t h e m s e l v e s i n t h e


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t o symbolize t h e i r c o m m i t m en t o one a n o t h e r and t o sh ow t h e world t h a t t h e yeach "belong t o someone." They a r e r e g i s t e r e d domestic p a r t n e r s i n P h i l a d e l p h i a .

63. Angela and G a i l would l i k e t o g e t m a r r i e d and be r e c o g n i z e d a s am a r r i e d c o u p l e i n t h e i r h o m e s t a t e b e c a u s e t h e y l o v e each o t h e r and want h echance t o s t a n d up and have t h e i r f a m i l y and community w i t n e s s them m ak e t h ef u l l e s t c o m m i t m en t two p e o p l e can make t o o ne a n o t h e r .

64. They a l s o want h e s e c u r i t y t h a t c o m e s w i t h m a r r i a g e and t h ep r o t e c t i o n s t h e l aw p r o v i d e s t o m a r r i e d c o u p l e s i n t i m e s o f e e d . Because Angelai s t h e primary breadwinner and G a i l , a s an r t i s t , does no t draw a s t e a d y paycheckt o c o n t r i b u t e t o s o c i a l s e c u r i t y , t h e c o u p l e f e a r s f o r G a i l ' s economic s e c u r i t ys h o u l d Angela b e t h e f i r s t o f them t o p a s s away. Because t h e y cannot b e m a r r i e d ,G a i l would not g e t A n g e l a ' s s o c i a l s e c u r i t y and she would l o s e a u b s t a n t i a lp o r t i o n o f h e f a m i l y ' s a s s e t s b e c a u s e she would no t b e e n t i t l e d t o t h e s p o u s a lexemption from t h e i n h e r i t a n c e t a x .

65. They have t r i e d t o r e p l i c a t e s o m e o f h e s e c u r i t y t h a t c o m e s w i t hm a r r i a g e b y having w i l l s and h e a l t h c a r e and f i n a n c i a l powers o f t t o r n e y drawn upt o g r a n t each o t h e r s o m e o f h e r i g h t s and d e c i s i o n-making power h a t would havec o m e a u t o m a t i c a l l y w i t h m a r r i a g e .

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66. Onu l y 1 , 2013, Angelaand G a i l went o t h e o f f i c e ofh e R e g i s t e r of

W i l l s andClerk of r phans'CourtofBucksCounty o applyf o r am a r r i a g e

l i c e n s e . T h e i r a p p l i c a t i o n was e f u s e d becausetheya r e asame-sexc o u p l e .HelenaM i l l e r andDana RaspbeY~y

67. P l a i n t i f f s HelenaM i l l e r ("Helena")andDar aRaspberry "Dar a")of

P h i l a d e l p h i a havel i v e d t o g e t h e r i n a c ommittedr e l a t i o n s h i p f o r s i x y e a r s . Helena,

39,s a e a c h e r ande d u c a t i o n a l c o n s u l t a n t . Dara,43,s an emer genc y medicine

p h y s i c i a n a t E i n s t e i n Medic alCenterP h i l a d e l p h i a .

68. I n 2010, HelenaandDara decidedt o getm a r r i e d . Theywantedt o

makea u b l i c commitment o eacho t h e r i n f r o n t ofh e i r f r i e n d s andf a m i l i e s , t o

j o i n t h e i r f a m i l i e s t o g e t h e r , andt o s t a r t a new familyt o g e t h e r . Theygotmarriedi n

ConnecticutonSeptember25, 2010, i t h 140 ofh e i r loved ones i n a t t e n d a n c e .

69. In t h e f a l l of011,becausetheywerehoping t o soon havec h i l d r e n of

t h e i r own,heydecidedt o move r o mNework o P h i l a d e l p h i a i n o r d e r t o b e

c l o s e r t o t h e i r f a m i l i e s .

70. HelenaandDara'sdr eamt o s t a r t a familycame r u e onMay8,2013,

whenHelenag a v e b i r t h t o t h e i r d a u g h t e r , Z.R.Theyhaveh i r e d ana t t o r n e y f o r

Dara o doa second p a r e n t a d o p t i o n of.R.Thisp r o c e s s i s e x p e c t e d t o t a k e about

6onths, u r i n g whic htimeZ.R. i l l haveonlyone e g a l l y r e c o g n i z e d p a r e n t ,

and theyhave beent o l d i t w i l l c o s t about$1,800.I f h e i r m a r r i a g e wer e

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recognized i n Pennsylvania, Dar a would a u t o m a t i c a l l y be recognized a s a p a r e n t t oa n y c h i l d born t o her spouse.

71. Sadly, o r He l e n a a n d Dara, h e c o s t o f mo v i n g t o Pennsylvania t o bec l o s e t o family w a s t o be e f f e c t i v e l y "unmarri ed" and, h u s , considered l e s s o f afamily i n the eyes o f he s t a t e . Helena a nd Dar a woul d l i k e t h e i r marriage t o berecognized i n Pennsylvania not only because o f h e c o n c r e t e p r o t e c t i o n s i t wouldprovide t o t h e m a n d t h e i r d a u g h t e r , but a l s o because they f e e l t h a t being t r e a t e d asa n unmarried couple d i s r e s p e c t s t h e c ommi tme n t they h a v e m a d e t o o n e a n o t h e ra n d devalues t h e i r f a m i l y . They h o p e t h a t t h e i r marriage w i l l be recognized i nPennsylvania b e f o r e t h e i r baby i s old e n oug h to be a w a r e t h a t t h e C omm o n w e a l t hd o e s not c o n s i d e r her family deserving o f h e s a m e r e s p e c t a f f o r d e d o t h e r f a m i l i e s .Ron GebhaYdtsbaue~ and Ye g Wight

72. P l a i n t i f f s Ron ebhardtsbauer("Ro n ") n d G r e g W r i g h t "G r e g")h a v e l i v e d t o g e t h e r i n a committed r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 19 y e a r s . R o n , who s 60, s aC l i n i c a l Associate P r o f e s s o r a n d h e a d o f h e A c t u a r i a l Science P r o g r a m a t P e n nS t a t e U n i v e r s i t y . Greg, 56, s a n a c u p u n c t u r i s t i n p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e . Ron n d G r e g

h a v e l i v e d i n S t a t e College s i n c e 2008.73. Ron n d G r e g r e g i s t e r e d a s domestic p a r t n e r s i n S t a t e College w h e n

t h a t be c ame p o s s i b l e in 2011. T h e y a r e enga ged t o be m a r r i e d . Th e y w a n t o getmarried to d e c l a r e p u b l i c l y a n d o f f i c i a l l y t h e i r c omm itm en t . T h e y would l i k e t o be

F ~ c 3


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a b l e t o r e f e r t o onea n o t h e r o f f i c i a l l y a s s p o u s e s . They e e l t h a t u s i n g t h e term

" p a r t n e r " i s i n a d e q u a t e a s i t doesnotconveyt h e l e v e l of ommitment h e y have

ma d e o one n o t h e r .74. I t i s i m p o r t a n t t o themt o marryi n P e n n s y l v a n i a , where t h e y have

ma d e h e i r ho me andb u i l t t h e i r l i v e s t o g e t h e r . An d h e y would i k e t o bea b l e t o

marryi n t h e i r o w n c h u r c h . T h e i r m i n i s t e r h a s a l r e a d y a g r e e d t o o f f i c i a t e a t t h eceremony f t h a t becomesano p t i o n f o r theml e g a l l y .

75. Because h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p i s not e g a l l y r e c o g n i z e d i n P e n n s y l v a n i a ,

w he n oneof hem p a s s e s a wa y,h e s u r v i v i n g p a r t n e r w i l l bed e n i e d t h e s p o u s a l

exemption fromt h e i n h e r i t a n c e t a x and w i l l have o paya 15%ta x o n h a l f of

e v e r y t h i n g t h e c o u p l e o w n s o g e t h e r , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r home.

Ma r la Cattermolea id u l i a Lo b u r76. P l a i n t i f f s Ma rlaC a t t e r m o l e ("Marla") ndJ u l i a Lobur " J u l i a " ) of

H a r r i s b u r g have i v e d t o g e t h e r i n a committed r e l a t i o n s h i p f o r 27 e a r s . Theymet

d u r i n g Ar my b a s i c t r a i n i n g .77. J u l i a , w ho s 58,s a i f e l o n g P e n n s y l v a n i a n , born andr a i s e d i n New

Kensington,u s t o u t s i d e ofi t t s b u r g h . Marla, 54,gr ew up Iow a b u t mo v e d t o

Pe nnsylv aniai n 1986 o bew i t h J u l i a . Marla andJ u l i a b o t h wor k o r t h e

Common we a lth, u l i a a s a s o f t w a r e a r c h i t e c t andp r o j e c t managerand Marlaa s a

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s e n i o r b e n e f i t s manager. J u l i a i s a l s o an a d j u n c t l e c t u r e r i n computer s c i e n c e a t

Penn S t a t e H a r r i s b u r g .

78. Marla i s a 12- y e a r v e t e r a n of h e Army. She e f t t h e Army s as e r g e a n t i n 1995, having e a r n e d v a r i o u s commendations. J u l i a a t t e m p t e d t o s e r v e

h e r c o u n t r y and e n l i s t e d i n t h e A r m y n 1983 b u t she wa s d i s c h a r g e d d u r i n g b a s i ct r a i n i n g a f t e r h e r s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n wa s e v e a l e d t o h e r s u p e r i o r s . M i l i t a r y p o l i c ya t t h e time b a r r e d s e r v i c e by e s b i a n s and gay m e n .

79. Marla and J u l i a s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t each o t h e r . They s h a r e f i n a n c e s and

a l l of h e i r p r o p e r t y , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r ho m e , s j o i n t l y owned. They not o n l y t a k e .

c a r e of ach o t h e r , t h e y a l s o took c a r e of u l i a ' s mother f o r 12 y e a r s when tbec ame d i f f i c u l t f o r h e r p h y s i c a l l y and f i n a n c i a l l y t o l i v e on h e r own. She i v e dw i t h them u n t i l she p a s s e d aw ay i n 1997.

80. In 2009, Marla and J u l i a g o t m a r r i e d i n C a r r o l l , Iowa, where Marla

g r e w u p . M a r l a ' s mother and s i s t e r were t h e r e t o c e l e b r a t e w i t h them. They hadwanted t o marry o r y e a r s b u t d i d not want o d o t f a r from home. They d e c i d e d t o

marry i n I ow a s soon a s t h a t bec ame a p o s s i b i l i t y b e c a u s e i t wa s h e c l o s e s t t h i n g

they thought h e y would g e t t o marrying a t "home."81. Because h e i r m a r r i a g e i s not e c o g n i z e d i n t h e i r h o m e t a t e of

P e n n s y l v a n i a , Marla and J u l i a have gone o c o n s i d e r a b l e expense t o have a n

a t t o r n e y draw u p documents, such a s l i v i n g w i l l s and h e a l t h c a r e p r o x i e s , o t r y t o

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Maureen Hennessey84. P l a i n t i f f Maureen Hennessey "Maureen"), 3, i v e d i n a committed

r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h Mary Beth McIntyre "Mary Beth") ro m 1984 n t i l Mary e t h ' sd e a t h o n May 8, 013, t t h e ag e o f 5 .

85. Both Maureen and Mary Beth w ere born and a i s e d i n P h i l a d e l p h i aand h e y s h a r e d t h e i r l i v e s t o g e t h e r i n P h i l a d e l p h i a f o r 29 e a r s . They a i s e d 3c h i l d r e n t o g e t h e r Maureen's son from a r e v i o u s r e l a t i o n s h i p , and Mary e t h ' sn i e c e and nephew, hose mother i e d when h e y were young. And h e y becamegrandmothers o t h r e e g r a n d c h i l d r e n , no w 1 9 , 9, and 8 . They e g i s t e r e d a s L i f eP a r t n e r s w i t h t h e c i t y o f h i l a d e l p h i a i n 2002.

86. I n August 2009, Mary Beth was i a g n o s e d w i t h i n o p e r a b l e S t a g e 4lung a n c e r t h a t had p r e a d t o h e r b r a i n and b o n e s . A f t e r Mary Beth e l l i l l ,Maureen e f t h e r job s a middle c h o o l t e a c h e r i n t h e P h i l a d e l p h i a School i s t r i c tt o c a r e f o r Mary Beth and e l p Mary Beth run e r b u s i n e s s , which was h ef a m i l y ' s p r i m a r y s o u r c e o f ncome.

87. Maureen and Mary Beth w ere m a r r i e d i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s on June 9,2011. They would have r e f e r r e d t o marry n t h e i r h o m e t a t e o f e n n s y l v a n i ab e c a u s e t h e i r l o v e d ones r e t h e r e and h e y would have i k e d t o have been b l e t os o l e m n i z e t h e i r m a r r i a g e a t Germantown r i e n d s Meeting. But e t t i n g m a r r i e d i n

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s o c i a l s e c u r i t y b e n e f i t s when she u r n s 65. Because Mary Beth wa s h e p r i m a r yb r e a d w i n n e r , t h i s w i l l l e a v e Maureen i n a n c i a l l y v u l n e r a b l e i n h e r r e t i r e m e n t .

91. P e n n s y l v a n i a ' s r e f u s a l t o r e c o g n i z e h e r m a r r i a g e t o Mary Beth doesno t u s t c a u s e Maureen economic h a r d s h i p . I n h e r time of r i e f , she s d e n i e d t h ecomfort and d i g n i t y o f e i n g acknowledged s Mary e t h ' s widow.

92. P l a i n t i f f s Deb and Susan Whitewood, r e d i a and Lynn Hurdle,Fernando Chang-Muy and Len i e s e r , Dawn lummer and Diana o l s o n , AngelaGillem and G a i l Lloyd, nd Ro n e b h a r d t s b a u e r and Greg Wright r e a l l e l i g i b l et o marry but o r t h e f a c t t h a t t h e y wish o marry someone o f h e s a me e x . Theya r e a l l over h e age o f 8, u l l y competent, r e no t a r r i e d t o anyone l s e ; a r e no tw i t h i n a r o h i b i t e d d e g r e e o f o n s a n g u i n i t y o f ach o t h e r , and a r e p r e p a r e d t op r o v i d e t h e r e q u i r e d i n f o r m a t i o n and p ay h e l i c e n s e f e e . They r e w i l l i n g and a b l e

t o assume l l o f h e o b l i g a t i o n s o f a r r i a g e .93. P l a i n t i f f s Edwin i l l and David Palmer, eather and Kath o e h l e r ,

Helena i l l e r and Dara a s p b e r r y , Marla a t t e r m o l e and u l i a Lobur, ndMaureen Hennessey. l l were m a r r i e d l e g a l l y under h e laws o f t h e r s t a t e s andt h e i r m a r r i a g e s would be e c o g n i z e d w i t h i n t h e Commonwealth u t f o r t h e f a c tt h a t t h e y a r e m a r r i e d t o a e r s o n of h e s a me e x .

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Defendants

94. DefendantTHOMASW.ORBETTs t h e Governorofh e

Commonwealthof e n n s y l v a n i a . I n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y , hei s t h e c h i e f e x e c u t i v e

o f f i c e r of h e Commonwealthand s , p u r s u a n t t o A r t i c l e IV, e c t i o n 2f h e

P e n n s y l v a n i a C o n s t i t u t i o n , r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e f a i t h f u l e x e c u t i o n ofh e lawsofh e

Commonwealtho f e n n s y l v a n i a , n c l u d i n g t h e laws h a t e x c l u d e same- s e x c o u p l e s

frommarryingo r having h e i r m a r r i a g e s r e c o g n i z e d (23 Pa.C . S . 1 :02nd

1 7 0 4 ) .

95. DefendantKATHLEEN.KANEs t h e A t t o r n e y G e n e r a l o fh e

Commonwealth o fe n n s y l v a n i a . She s suedi n h e r o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y p u r s u a n t t o

t h e Commonwealth A t t o r n e y s Act,71P . S . 32-204.

96. DefendantMICHAELWOLFs t h e S e c r e t a r y of e a l t h ofh e

Commonwealth ofennsylvaniaanda s suchs e r v e s a s c h i e f e x e c u t i v e ofh e

P e n n s y l v a n i a Departmentofe a l t h . I n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y , p u r s u a n t t o 23Pa.

C.S.110 4 and1306,he s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r e p a r i n g anda p p r o v i n g t h e m a r r i a g e

l i c e n s e a p p l i c a t i o n andm a r r i a g e l i c e n s e formsused i n countyo f f i c e s a c r o s s t h e

C o mmo n w e al t h,whi c hp r e s e n t l y p r o h i b i t p e r s o n s o fh e sa mesexfrommarrying

by r e q u i r i n g b o t h a"Bride"and"G r oom. "I n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y , p u r s u a n t t o 23

Pa.C . S . 106,he s chargedw i t h r e c e i v i n g r e p o r t s of s s u e d m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s

fromi n d i v i d u a l c o u n t i e s andw i t h p u b l i s h i n g s t a t i s t i c s d e r i v e d fromt h o s e r e p o r t s .


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97. The Commonwealth's Marriage Law r o v i d e s t h a t " [ n ] o p e r s o n s h a l lbe o i n e d i n m a r r i a g e i n t h i s Commonwealth u n t i l a m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e h a s been

o b t a i n e d , " and " [ n ] o m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s h a l l be i s s u e d e x c e p t upon w r i t t e n andv e r i f i e d a p p l i c a t i o n made by b o t h of h e p a r t i e s i n t e n d i n g t o m a r r y . " 23 Pa. C . S . 1 3 . 0 1 ( a ) , 13 2 ( a ) .

98. I n each county i n t h e Commonwealth, i t h e r t h e county R e g i s t e r ofW i l l s o r t h e county C l e r k of Orphans' Court s s u e s m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s .

99. DefendantMARY O POKNIS s t h e R e g i s t e r of i l l s of WashingtonCounty, e n n s y l v a n i a , and h e r o f f i c e i s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r i s s u i n g m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s i n

t h a t c o u n t y .1 0 0 . On une 24, 2013, n v o k i n g Commonwealth law, h e o f f i c e of M s.

Poknis r e f u s e d t o i s s u e a m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e t o P l a i n t i f f s D eb and Susan Whitewoodb e c a u s e t h e y a r e asame-sex c o u p l e .

1 0 1 . DefendantDONALD ETRILLE, R . , s t h e R e g i s t e r of i l i s andC l e r k of Orphans' Court of Bucks County, e n n s y l v a n i a , and h i s o f f i c e i sr e s p o n s i b l e f o r i s s u i n g m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e s i n t h a t c o u n t y .

1 0 2 . On u l y 1 , 2013, n v o k i n g Commonwealth law, h e o f f i c e of M r .P e t r i l l e r e f u s e d t o i s s u e a m a r r i a g e l i c e n s e t o p l a i n t i f f s Angela Gillem and G a i lLloyd b e c a u s e t h e y a r e asame-sex c o u p l e .

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1 0 3 . A l l d e f e n d a n t s namedabovea r e , and a t l l r e l e v a n t t i m e s have b e e n ,

a c t i n g underc o l o r oft a t e law,anda r e suedi n t h e i r o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t i e s .

JURISDICTIONANDVENUE1 0 4 . ThisCourth a s u r i s d i c t i o n over h i s m a t t e r p u r s u a n t t o 28U. S.C.

1331and1343becauset h e s u i t r a i s e s f e d e r a l q u e s t i o n s under42.S .C.1983

andt h e F o u r t e e n t h Amendmento t h e United S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n .

1 0 5 . Venue s p r o p e r i n t h e Middle i s t r i c t ofe n n s y l v a n i a under28

U . S. C. 391(b)becaused e f e n d a n t s CORBETT,KANE,nd WOLFe s i d e i n t h i s

d i s t r i c t .

FACTUALBACKGROUND

Pennsylvania'sP r o h i b i t i o n ofMar r i age o r Same-SexCouples

106. P e n n s y l v a n i a ' s MarriageLaw,3Pa. . S . 1101etseq. ,g o v e r n s

m a r r i a g e s i n t h e Commonwealth.I n 1996,h e MarriageLawwas amended o

e x p r e s s l y p r o h i b i t m a r r i a g e f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s . The1996 amendmenthad two

p a r t s . F i r s t , t d e f i n e d m a r r i a g e a s " [ a ] i v i l c o n t r a c t by h i c h _ one man ndone

womana k e eacho t h e r f o r hu sbandandw i f e . " 23Pa. . S . 1102.Second,n a

s t a r k d e p a r t u r e fromP e n n s y l v a n i a ' s u s u a l r e c o g n i t i o n of a r r i a g e s e n t e r e d i n t o i n

o t h e r s t a t e s , t madevoidi n t h i s Commonwealth" any"marriagebetweenp e r s o n s

ofh e samesex.. .enteredi n t o i n a n o t h e r s t a t e o r f o r e i g n j u r i s d i c t i o n , even f

v a l i d wher ee n t e r e d i n t o . " 23Pa. C.S. 7 0 4 .

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107. As e s u l t , m a r r i a g e i n P e n n s y l v a n i a i s l e g a l l y a v a i l a b l e o n l y t oo p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s . Same- s e x c o u p l e s may not marry i n Pennsylvania, and i f

t h e y a r e m a r r i e d e l s e w h e r e , t h e i r m a r r i a g e s a r e not e c o g n i z e d i n P e n n s y l v a n i a .Same-Sex an d Opposite-Sex Couples Ar e

S i m i l a r l y S i t u a t e d f o r Purposes of Marriage108. The Supreme Court has c a l l e d m a r r i a g e " t h e most m p o r t a n t r e l a t i o n

i n l i f e , " Z a b l o c k i u . R e d h a i l , 434 U.S. 374, 38 4 1 9 7 8 ) i n t e r n a l q u o t a t i o n markso m i t t e d ) , and an e x p r e s s i o n [ ] o f m o t i o n a l s u p p o r t and p u b l i c commitment."T u r n e r v . S a f l e y , 48 2 U.S. 78, 95 (1987). I t i s . " a f a r - r e a c h i n g l e g a lacknowledgement o f h e i n t i m a t e r e l a t i o n s h i p between t w o p e o p l e . . . . " W i n d s o r ,S l i p . O p . t 20 . This i s a s t r u e f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s a s i t i s f o r o p p o s i t e - s e xc o u p l e s .

109. Same- s e x c o u p l e s such a s t h e p l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s a r e i d e n t i c a l t oo p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s i n a l l o f h e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s r e l e v a n t t o m a r r i a g e .

1 1 0 . Same- s e x c o u p l e s make h e same commitment o o ne a n o t h e r a so p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s . Like o p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s , same- s e x c o u p l e s b u i l d t h e i rl i v e s t o g e t h e r , p l a n t h e i r f u t u r e s t o g e t h e r and hope o grow o l d t o g e t h e r . Likeo p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s , same- s e x c o u p l e s s u p p o r t o ne a n o t h e r e m o t i o n a l l y an df i n a n c i a l l y an d t a k e c a r e o f o n e a n o t h e r p h y s i c a l l y when f a c e d w i t h i n j u r y o ri l l n e s s . Fo r example, when p l a i n t i f f Maureen Hennessey's s p o u s e , M a ry Beth, wasdying o f a n c e r , Maureen e f t h e r job a s a e a c h e r t o t a k e c a r e o f M a ry Beth u n t i l

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MaryBethp a s s e d away.Maureen'sd e v o t i o n t o MaryBeth, h e p e r s o n w i t h whom

she h a r e d h e r l i f e f o r 29 e a r s , i s what a r r i a g e i s a b o u t .

1 1 1 . Like s ome p p o s i t e- s e x c o u p l e s , s omes ame- s e x c o u p l e s l i k e

p l a i n t i f f s De bandSusan Whitewood,ernando Chan g-Mu yandL e n i e s e r , Dawn

Plu mmerandDianaPoison, andHelena i l l e r andDara a s p b e r r y , a r e p a r e n t s

r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n t o g e t h e r .

1 12. S ame- s e x c o u p l e s s e e k i n g t o marrya r e j u s t a s w i l l i n g anda b l e a s

o p p o s i t e- s e x c o u p l e s t o assume h e o b l i g a t i o n s ofa r r i a g e .1 1 3 . The l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s and t h e r same- s e x c o u p l e s . n P e n n s y l v a n i a , f

p e r m i t t e d t o marry, wouldb e n e f i t no e s s t h a n o p p o s i t e- s e x c o u p l e s fromt h e many

l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s and h e s o c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n a f f o r d e d t o m a r r i e d c o u p l e s .

1 1 4 . Therewasatimewh e n an n d i v i d u a l ' s sexwas e l e v a n t t o h i s o r h e r

l e g a l r i g h t s andd u t i e s w i t h i n t h e m a r i t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p . Forexample,usbandshad

a dutyt o s u p p o r t t h e i r wivesbut not v i c e v e r s a andhusbands had e g a l own ers hip

ofl l p r o p e r t y b e l o n g i n g t o t h e i r w i v e s . Bu t h e s e l e g a l d i s t i n c t i o n s havea l l been

removed such h a t t h e l e g a l r i g h t s and u t i e s ofusban dsandwivesa r e n ow

i d e n t i c a l . See l s o 1 Pa. C.S.301(a)"[W]here any t a t u t e h e r e t o f o r e

e n a c t e d t h e r e i s a e s i g n a t i o n r e s t r i c t e d t o a i n g l e s e x , h e d e s i g n a t i o n s h a l l be

de emed o r e f e r t o bot hs e x e s u n l e s s t h e d e s i g n a t i o n doesnoto p e r a t e t o denyo r

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a b r i d g e e q u a l i t y of i g h t s under h e law of h i s Commonwealth b e c a u s e of h e s e xof h e i n d i v i d u a l . " ) .

The Exclusion ofSame-Sex Couples f rom Marriag eCauses S u b s t a n t i a l Harm o Couples an d Their Families1 1 5 . By r e v e n t i n g same- s e x c o u p l e s from marrying an d r e f u s i n g t o

r e c o g n i z e t h e i r m a r r i a g e s from o t h e r s s t a t e s , Commonwealth law d e p r i v e s them ofnumerous e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s t h a t a r e a v a i l a b l e t o o p p o s i t e = s e x c o u p l e s i nP e n n s y l v a n i a by i r t u e of h e i r m a r r i a g e s . By a y of xample o n l y :

a . A a r r i e d p e r s o n i s exempt from i n h e r i t a n c e t a x on p r o p e r t y l e f t t ohi m by an o p p o s i t e - s e x s p o u s e , i n c l u d i n g t h e s p o u s e ' s s h a r e of h ec o u p l e ' s home, nd, h u s , p r o t e c t e d a g a i n s t economic d i s t r e s s o rl o s s of a home because of n e s t a t e t a x b i l l . 72 . S . 9 1 1 6 ( a ) ( 1 . 1 ) ( i i ) . A ame- s e x s u r v i v i n g spouse o r p a r t n e r i s d e n i e dt h i s exemption an d must pay a 15%tax, h e h i g h e s t r a t e , whicha p p l i e s t o n on- f a m i l y -members. 72 . S . 1 1 6 ( a ) ( 3 ) .

b . A i d o w o r wi d owe r of n o p p o s i t e- s e x spouse i s e n t i t l e d t o 50%t o 100% f i s o r h e r d e c e a s e d s p o u s e ' s e s t a t e i f h e spouse d i e dw i t h o u t a w i l l . 20 Pa. . S . 2102. A ame- s e x s u r v i v i n g s p o u s eo r p a r t n e r i n t h i s s i t u a t i o n r e c e i v e s n o t h i n g .

c . I f an o p p o s i t e - s e x spouse becomes n c a p a c i t a t e d , h e r spouse sa u t o m a t i c a l l y a u t h o r i z e d t o make d e c i s i o n s r e g a r d i n g h e r c a r e . 20Pa. C.S. 5 4 6 1 ( d ) ( 1 ) ( i ) . T h i s p r o t e c t i o n does not x t e n d t o asame- s e x spouse o r p a r t n e r .

d . U n d e r h e w o r k e r s ' compensation l a w s , h e o p p o s i t e- s e x spouse ofsomeone w ho d i e s o r i s i n j u r e d i n t h e workplace i s e n t i t l e d t odamages an d ma y b r i n g s u i t . 77 . S . 431 et s eq. S ame - s e xspouses o r p a r t n e r s have n o e g a l s t a n d i n g t o sue over h e i r spouseo r p a r t n e r ' s workplace i n j u r y .

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k . "Gold S t a r Family" i c e n s e p l a t e s a r e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e o p p o s i t e- s e xwidows and widowers of e o p l e k i l l e d on a c t i v e m i l i t a r y d u t y . 75Pa. . S . 365. S u r v i v i n g same- s e x spouses o r p a r t n e r s a r e note l i g i b l e f o r l i c e n s e p l a t e s r e c o g n i z i n g t h e i r loved o n e ' s s a c r i f i c e .

116. Same- s e x c o u p l e s a r e e x c l u d e d from t h e s e and m a n y t h e r l e g a lp r o t e c t i o n s p r o v i d e d f o r m a r r i e d c o u p l e s under Pennsylvania law.

117. The x c l u s i o n of a m e- s e x c o u p l e s from m a r r i a g e a l s o d e n i e s theme l i g i b i l i t y f o r numerous e d e r a l p r o t e c t i o n s a f f o r d e d t o m a r r i e d c o u p l e s i n c l u d i n g

i n t h e a r e a s of m m i g r a t i o n and c i t i z e n s h i p , t a x e s , and o c i a l s e c u r i t y . Some of h ef e d e r a l p r o t e c t i o n s f o r m a r r i e d c o u p l e s a r e o n l y a v a i l a b l e t o c o u p l e s i f h e i r

m a r r i a g e s a r e l e g a l l y r e c o g n i z e d i n t h e s t a t e i n which t h e y l i v e . S e e , e . g . ,42

U.S.C. 1 6 ( h ) ( 1 ) ( A ) ( i ) m a r r i a g e f o r e l i g i b i l i t y f o r s o c i a l s e c u r i t y b e n e f i t s basedon law of t a t e where o u p l e r e s i d e s a t time of p p l i c a t i o n ) ; 29 C.F.R. 25.122(b) same o r Family Medical Leave A c t ) . Thus, v en p l a i n t i f f s EdwinH i l l and David Palmer, eather and Kath o e h l e r , Helena M i l l e r and Dara

R a s p b e r r y , Marla C a t t e r m o l e and u l i a Lobur, and M aureen Hennessey, who r ea l r e a d y m a r r i e d , cannot c c e s s such f e d e r a l p r o t e c t i o n s a s long a s P e n n s y l v a n i a

r e f u s e s t o r e c o g n i z e t h e i r e x i s t i n g m a r r i a g e s .

118. The x c l u s i o n from m a r r i a g e a l s o harms same- s e x c o u p l e s and h e i r

f a m i l i e s i n l e s s t a n g i b l e ways.

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1 1 9 . Althought h e p l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s a r e a l l i n l o n g - t e r m committed

r e l a t i o n s h i p s , t h e y ando t h e r same- s e x c o u p l e s a r e d e n i e d t h e s t a b i l i z i n g e f f e c t s of

m a r r i a g e , whichh e l p s keepc o u p l e s t o g e t h e r d u r i n g t i m e s of r i s i s o r c o n f l i c t .

1 2 0 . Excludingsame- s e x c o u p l e s fromm a r r i a g e a l s o harmsc o u p l e s and

t h e i r c h i l d r e n bydenyingthemt h e s o c i a l r e c o g n i t i o n t h a t c omesw i t h m a r r i a g e .

M a r r i a g e h a s p r o f o u n d s o c i a l s i g n i f i c a n c e b o t h f o r t h e c o u p l e t h a t g e t s m a r r i e d and

t h e f a m i l y , r i e n d s andcommunity h a t s u r r o u n d them.Th e e r m s " m a r r i e d " and

"spouse" haveu n i v e r s a l l y u n d e r s t o o d meanings h a t c o mma n d e s p e c t f o r ac o u p l e ' s r e l a t i o n s h i p andt h e commitment h e y havemade.

1 2 1 . Thee x c l u s i o n fromt h e esteemedi n s t i t u t i o n of a r r i a g e a l s o demeans

ands t i g m a t i z e s l e s b i a n andgayc o u p l e s and h e i r c h i l d r e n bys e n d i n g t h e message

t h a t t h e y a r e l e s s worthyandv a l u e d t h a n f a m i l i e s headedbyo p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s .

1 2 2 . Th eimpact of h e e x c l u s i o n fromm a r r i a g e o n same- s e x c o u p l e s and

t h e i r f a m i l i e s i s e x t e n s i v e andr e a l . Thed e n i a l of h e r i g h t t o marry c a u s e s t h e s e

c o u p l e s and h e i r f a m i l i e s t o s u f f e r s i g n i f i c a n t e m o t i o n a l , p h y s i c a l , andeconomic

1 2 3 . Th e l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s r e c o g n i z e t h a t m a r r i a g e e n t a i l s b o t h b e n e f i t s t o

ando b l i g a t i o n s on h e p a r t n e r s andt h e y welcome b o t h .


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Excluding Same-Sex Couples from Marriage s NotR a t i o n a l l y R e l a t e d t o a L e g i t i m a t e Government n t e r e s t ,

- L e t Alone Able t o Withstand Heightened Scrutiny

1 2 4 . A s h e e v i d e n c e w i l l show, h e p r o h i b i t i o n a g a i n s t m a r r i a g e f o r same-sex c o u p l e s i n P e n n s y l v a n i a i s n o t c l o s e l y t a i l o r e d t o s e r v e an i m p o r t a n tgovernment n t e r e s t o r s u b s t a n t i a l l y r e l a t e d t o an e x c e e d i n g l y p e r s u a s i v ej u s t i f i c a t i o n . I n f a c t , a s t h e e v i d e n c e a l s o w i l l show, h e p r o h i b i t i o n f a i l s any l e v e lof o n s t i t u t i o n a l s c r u t i n y . I t i s n o t even a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o any l e g i t i m a t ej u s t i f i c a t i o n s t h a t were o f f e r e d i n s u p p o r t of t w h e n t h e M a r r i a g e Law wasamended i n 1996 nor t o any l e g i t i m a t e i n t e r e s t of h e Commonwealth t h a td e f e n d a n t s might n o w o f f e r a s a a s i s f o r d e n y i n g same- s e x c o u p l e s t h e freedom t omarry i n P e n n s y l v a n i a .

1 2 5 . W h e n h e Commonwealth e n a c t e d t h e 1996 am e n dm e nt r o h i b i t i n gm a r r i a g e f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s , l e g i s l a t o r s i n f a v o r of h e am e n dm e nt e l i e d on"moral o p p o s i t i o n t o same- s e x m a r r i a g e s ...and s u p p o r t of h e t r a d i t i o n a l f a m i l yu n i t . " 1996 Pa. e g i s . . (House), t 2017; i d . a t 2019 " [ T ] h e l a r g em a j o r i t y [of e n n s y l v a n i a n s ] d o n o t want o u r t r a d i t i o n a l m a r r i a g e i n s t i t u t i o n andour s t a t e of o r a l s t o be c h a n g e d . " ) ; d . a t 2 0 2 2 " T h i s i s a v o t e about a m i l yv a l u e s and t r a d i t i o n al b e l i e f s . . . . " ) . S o m e e g i s l a t o r s s a i d t h e r e was a need t op r o t e c t a g a i n s t a i n a n c i a l burden o n b u s i n e s s e s and t a x p a y e r s . I d . a t 2018 " [ I ] fw e a r e f o r c e d t o r e c o g n i z e same- s e x m a r r i a g e s , t h i s would p u t an unfunded

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P~ese~ving the Public Fisc an d the Coffers o f rivate Business127. Th e C o mmo nw eal t h cannot u s t i f y i t s d e n i a l o f marriage t o l e s b i a n

an d gay couples b y claiming an i n t e r e s t i n p r e s e r v i n g t h e p u b l i c f i s c or t h e c o f f e r so f r i v a t e b u s i n e s s . Saving m o n e y s not a u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r excluding a group f r o ma government b e n e f i t without an independent a t i o n a l e f o r why h e c o s t savings

ought o be born e b y t h e p a r t i c u l a r group denied the b e n e f i t . Mo r e o v e r, h eevidence w i l l s h o w h a t t h e r e i s n o a c t u a l b a s i s f o r t h e notion t h a t allowing andrecognizing t h e marriages o f ame-sex couples w i l l burden the C ommonwealt hf i n a n c i a l l y or c o n s t i t u t e a burden o n b u s i n e s s e s .P r o t e c t i o n o f hildren

128. Th e Commonwealth's ban o n marriage f o r same-sex couples i s no tr a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o c h i l d w e l f a r e concerns. Th e government has a v i t a l i n t e r e s t i np r o t e c t i n g t h e w e l l - b e i n g o f h i l d r e n , but h e e x c l u s i o n o f ame- s e x couples f r o mmarriage b e a r s n o r e l a t i o n to t h i s i n t e r e s t . To h e c o n t r a r y , t harms c h i l d r e n i n t h eC ommonwealth.

129. C o mm o nw eal t h law recognizes t h a t n e i t h e r sexual o r i e n t a t i o n no rgender h as an y b e a r i n g o n a c o u p l e ' s a b i l i t y t o s u c c e s s f u l l y r e a r c h i l d r e n and, h u s ,

t r e a t s gay an d l e s b i a n couples t h e same as h e t e r o s e x u a l couples with r e s p e c t t oadoption an d r e c o g n i t i o n as p a r e n t s through t h e i n loco a r e n t i s d o c t r i n e .

Pennsylvania judges r o u t i n e l y g r a n t adoptions t o same-sex c o u p l e s , r e c o g n i z i n g

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t h a t t h e a d o p t i o n s a r e i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t ofh e c h i l d . Indeed, h e government t s e l f

p l a c e s c h i l d r e n f o r a d o p t i o n w i t h same- s e x couplesl i k e p l a i n t i f f s Deb andSusan

Whitewood,who o i n t l y adopted h e i r sonL.W.outofh e f o s t e r c a r e system. An y

a s s e r t i o n t h a t t h e Commonwe althdoes not o n s i d e r same- s e x couplese q u a l l y

e f f e c t i v e p a r e n t s can notbec r e d i t e d given t s ownonduct v i d e n c i n g a i f f e r e n t

view.130. Moreover,h e r e i s no a l i d b a s i s f o r t h e Comm onwealth o a s s e r t a

p r e f e r e n c e f o r c h i l d - r e a r i n g byo p p o s i t e- s e x couples oversame- s e x c o u p l e s . The

ev idence w i l l demonstratet h a t t h e r e i s aconsensusw i t h i n t h e s c i e n t i f i c

c ommunity, basedon over h i r t y y e a r s ofe s e a r c h , h a t c h i l d r e n r a i s e d bysam e-

sexcouplesa r e j u s t a s w e l l a d j u s t e d a s c h i l d r e n r a i s e d byo p p o s i t e- s e x c o u p l e s .

This s recognizedbyeverymajorp r o f e s s i o n a l o r g a n i z a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o c h i l d r e n ' s

h e a l t h andw e l f a r e i n c l u d i n g t h e AmericanAc ade myof e d i a t r i c s , t h e American

P s y c h o l o g i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , t h e AmericanMedical s s o c i a t i o n , t h e N a t i o n a l

A s s o c i a t i o n ofo c i a l Workersandt h e ChildWelfareLeagueofAmerica.

131. Otherc o u r t s havefound, f t e r t r i a l s i n v o l v i n g e x p e r t t e s t i m o n y , h a t

t h e r e i s no a t i o n a l b a s i s f o r f a v o r i n g p a r e n t i n g by e t e r o s e x u a l c o u p l e s over gay

andl e s b i a n c o u p l e s . See, . g . , Pe~~y . SchwaNzenegge~,70 4F.Sup p.2d921 ,80

(N.D. a l . 20 1 0 )f i n d i n g t h a t t h e r e s e a r c h s u p p o r t i n g t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t

" [ c ] h i l d r e n r a i s e d bygayo r l e s b i a n p a r e n t s a r e a s l i k e l y as c h i l d r e n r a i s e d by

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h e t e r o s e x u a l p a r e n t s t o be h e a l t h y , s u c c e s s f u l and w e l l- a d j u s t e d " i s "accepted

beyond s e r i o u s d e b a t e i n t h e f i e l d of evelopmental p s y c h o l o g y " ) , a f f ' d sub no m.

Pe~~y . Brown, 71 F.3d 1052 9th C i r . 2012), vacated og l a c k of tanding subn o m Hollingsworth v . P e ~ ~ ^ y , No. 12-144,2013 WL 196 927 U.S. June 26,2013);In ~e Adoption of oe, 008 WL 006172, t *20 F l a . C i r . C t . Nov. 25,2008)("[B]ased on t h e r o b u s t n a t u r e of h e evidence a v a i l a b l e i n t h e f i e l d , t h i s Court s

s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e i s s u e i s so f a r beyond d i s p u t e t h a t t would be r r a t i o n a l t o hold

o t h e r w i s e ; t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t s of h i l d r e n a r e not r e s e r v e d by p r o h i b i t i n ghomosexual a d o p t i o n . " ) , a f f ' d sub n o m FloridaDept f h i l d r e n &Famil ies .Adoption of .X. . , 4 5 So.3d 79 F l a . D i s t . Ct. A p p . 2010); H o w ar d . ChildW e l f a r e Agency Review Bd.,Nos. 1999-9881, 004 WL 154530, t *9 and 2004WL 200916, t *3-4 Ark. i r . C t . Dec. 29 ,2004) holding based on a c t u a l

f i n d i n g s r e g a r d i n g t h e w e l l - b e i n g of h i l d r e n of gay p a r e n t s t h a t " t h e r e was nor a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s h i p between t h e [ e x c l u s i o n of gay people from becoming o s t e r

p a r e n t s ] and t h e h e a l t h , s a f e t y , and w e l f a r e of h e f o s t e r c h i l d r e n . " ) , a f f ' d sub nom

Dept fHuman ews. . Howard, 3 8 S.W.3d 1 (Ark. 2006).132. Excluding sa m e- s e x c o u p l e s from marriage h as no c o n c e i v a b l e b e n e f i t

t o c h i l d r e n of e t e r o s e x u a l c o u p l e s . Denying sa m e- s e x couples t h e r i g h t t o marry

does not encourage o p p o s i t e - s e x c o u p l e s who ave c h i l d r e n t o marry o r s t a y

m a r r i e d f o r t h e b e n e f i t of h e i r c h i l d r e n . And e g a r d l e s s of whether same- s e x

4 3


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c o u p l e s a r e p e r m i t t e d t o m a r r y , t h e c h i l d r e n ofp p o s i t e - s e x s p o u s e s w i l l c o n t i n u e

t o e n j o y t h e same e n e f i t s andp r o t e c t i o n s t h a t flow f ro mt h e i r p a r e n t s ' m a r r i a g e .

1 3 3 . Excludingsame- s e x c o u p l e s f rom m a r r i a g e s e r v e s o n l y t o harmt h e

c h i l d r e n r a i s e d byl e s b i a n andg ay c o u p l e s bydenying h e i r f a m i l i e s s i g n i f i c a n t

b e n e f i t s and byb r a n d i n g t h e i r f a m i l i e s a s i n f e r i o r andl e s s d e s e r v i n g o f e s p e c t

and,h u s , e n c o u r a g i n g p r i v a t e b i a s andd i s c r i m i n a t i o n . Accordingt o t h e 2010

U n i t e d S t a t e s Census,h e r e a r e o v e r 6,000same- s e x c o u p l e s r a i s i n g c h i l d r e n i n

P e n n s y l v a n i a . The t a t e ' s i n t e r e s t i n t h e w e l f a r e o f h i l d r e n o f e s b i a n andg ayp a r e n t s i s o r s h o u l d be a s g r e a t a s i t s i n t e r e s t i n t h e w e l f a r e o f t h e r c h i l d r e n .

CLAIMSFORRELIEF

COUNT:Deprivationof h e FundamentalRi g ht o Marry n

V i o l a t i o n of h e Dueroc ess Clauseof h eFourteenthAmendmento t h e Unit edS t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n(42U.S.C.983)

1 3 4 . P l a i n t i f f s i n c o r p o r a t e by e f e r e n c e a l l o f h e p r e c e d i n g p a r a g r a p h s o f

t h i s Comp laint s thou ghf u l l y s e t f o r t h h e r e i n .

1 3 5 . The o u r t e e n t h Amendmento t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n

p r e c l u d e s anyS t a t e f ro m d e p r i v [ i n g ] any p e r s o n o f i f e , l i b e r t y , o r p r o p e r t y ,

w i t h o u t du ep r o c e s s o f a w . " U.S. o n s t . ame nd.XIV,. Governmental

i n t e r f e r e n c e w i t h a u n d a m e n t a l r i g h t maybes u s t a i n e d o n l y u p o nashowi ng h a t

t h e l e g i s l a t i o n i s c l o s e l y t a i l o r e d t o s e r v e ani m p o r t a n t g o v e r n m e n t a l i n t e r e s t .


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136. The Supreme Court has long recognized t h a t marriage i s afundamental r i g h t a n d t h a t choices about marriage, i k e choices about o t h e r a s p e c t s

of a m i l y , a r e a c e n t r a l p a r t of h e l i b e r t y p r o t e c t e d b y the Due rocess Clause.137. Pennsylvania l a w d e n i e s t h e p l a i n t i f f couples a nd o t h e r s a me- s e x

couples t h i s fundamental r i g h t b y denying them access t o t h e s t a t e-recognizedi n s t i t u t i o n of marriage and r e f u s i n g t o recog niz e the marriages t h e y . n t e r e d i n t o i no t h e r s t a t e s .

138. The Commonwealth ca n demonstrate n o important n t e r e s t t o j u s t i f ydenying t h e p l a i n t i f f couples t h i s fundamental r i g h t . Indeed, t cannot demonstrate

t h a t t h e d e n i a l i s t a i l o r e d t o a ny l e g i t i m a t e i n t e r e s t a t a l l .139. The Commonwealth's p r o h i b i t i o n of marriage between persons of he

same sex a n d t s r e f u s a l t o recognize marriages e n t e r e d i n t o by s a me- s e x couples i no t h e r j u r i s d i c t i o n s v i o l a t e s t h e Due rocess Clause.

140. Defendants, c t i n g under c o l o r of t a t e law, r e d e p r i v i n g p l a i n t i f f s ofr i g h t s secured b y the Due rocess Clause of he Fourteenth Amendment o t h e .United S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n i n v i o l a t i o n of42 .S.C. 983.

L ~ "


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COUNTI :Discriminationo n theBasis o fSexual Orientationi n

V i o l a t i o n o ftheEqua l ProtectionCla use o ftheFourte e nth Amendmento theUnitedS t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n

(42 U.S.C.983)141. P l a i n t i f f s i n c o r p o r a t e byr e f e r e n c e a l l o fh e p r e c e d i n g p a r a g r a p h s o f

t h i s Complainta s th ough f u l l y s e t f o r t h h e r e i n .

142. Th e Equal r o t e c t i o n Clauseo fh e F o u r t e e n t h Am e n d m e n t o t h e

UnitedS t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n p r o v i d e s t h a t "n o S t a t e s h a l l . . . d e n y t o anyp e r s o n

w i t h i n i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n t h e equal p r o t e c t i o n o fh e l a w s . " U.S. Const. a m e nd.XIV,:~

143. By enyingt h e p l a i n t i f f c o u p l e s a ndo t h e r l e s b i a n a nd gay c o u p l e s t h e

a b i l i t y t o marrya n dt o h avet h e i r o u t - o f - s t a t e m a r r i a g e s r e c o g n i z e d , t h e

Co m m o n we a l t h ,hroughd e f e n d a n t s , d i s a d v a n t a g e s l e s b i a n a ndgaypeople o n t h e

b a s i s o fh e i r s e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n . I t d e n i e s t h e m s i g n i f i c a n t l e g a l p r o t e c t i o n s . And

i t " d e g r a d e [ s ] [a nd]de me an[s]"t h e m by i n s t r u c t [ i n g ] . . a l l p e r s o n s w i t h whom

s a m e- s e x couplesi n t e r a c t , i n c l u d i n g t h e i r ownh i l d r e n , " t h a t t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p i s

" l e s s worthy"thant h e r e l a t i o n s h i p s o ~ o t h e r s . Windsor, l i p Op., t 25.

144. S a m e- s e x couples a ndo p p o s i t e- s e x c o u p l e s a r e s i m i l a r l y s i t u a t e d f o r

purposes o f a r r i a g e .145. Th e evidencew i l l s h o wt h a t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s based o n s e x u a l

_ o r i e n t a t i o n d e m a n d h e i g h t e n e d s c r u t i n y .


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men have a r fewer i v i l r i g h t s p r o t e c t i o n s a t t h e s t a t e and e d e r a l l e v e l t h a nwomen nd a c i a l m i n o r i t i e s had when sex and a c e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s- w e r e d e c l a r e d

t o be s u s p e c t o r q u a s i s u s p e c t . They ha ve been t r i p p e d of h e r i g h t t o marrythrough 30 t a t e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l amendments , nd have been a r g e t e d t h r o u g h t h ev o t e r i n i t i a t i v e p r o c e s s more h a n any t h e r g r o u p .

1 5 0 . For l l t h e s e r e a s o n s , l a s s i f i c a t i o n based on e x u a l o r i e n t a t i o n s h o u l d

be reviewed under e i g h t e n e d s c r u t i n y , but h i s one cannot u r v i v e under any e v e l

of o n s t i t u t i o n a l s c r u t i n y The Commonwealth's x c l u s i o n of ame- s e x c o u p l e sfrom m a r r i a g e i s not a t i o n a l l y r e l a t e d t o any e g i t i m a t e governmental n t e r e s t . A l l

i t does t d i s p a r a g e and n j u r e l e s b i a n and g ay o u p l e s and h e i r c h i l d r e n .

151. The Commonwealth's r o h i b i t i o n of a r r i a g e f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s

and t s r e f u s a l t o r e c o g n i z e t h e m a r r i a g e s of ame- s e x c o u p l e s e n t e r e d i n t o

e l s e w h e r e v i o l a t e s t h e Equal r o t e c t i o n C l a u s e .1 5 2 . D e f e n d a n t s , a c t i n g under o l o r of t a t e law, r e d e p r i v i n g p l a i n t i f f s of

r i g h t s s e c u r e d by h e Equal r o t e c t i o n Clause of h e F o u r t e e n t h Amendment o t h eUnited S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n .


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COUNT I I :Discrimination o n the Basis o f Sex i n

V i o l a t i o n o f the Equal P r o t e c t i o n Clause o f theFourteenth Amendment o the Uni t ed S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n

(42 U.S.C. 983)1 5 3 . P l a i n t i f f s i n c o r p o r a t e by r e f e r e n c e a l l o f h e p r e c e d i n g p a r a g r a p h s o f

t h i s Complaint a s though f u l l y s e t f o r t h h e r e i n .1 5 4 . Th e Equal P r o t e c t i o n Clause o f h e F o u r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t o t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n p r o v i d e s t h a t "n o S t a t e s h a l l . . . d e n y t o a ny p e r s o nw i t h i n i t s j u r i s d i c t i o n t h e e q u a l p r o t e c t i o n o f h e l a w s . ' . ' U.S. C o n s t . a m e n d. XIV, 1 .

1 5 5 . C o m m o n w e al t h la w d e f i n e s m a r r i a g e a s " [ a ) c i v i l c o n t r a c t by whicho n e m a n a nd o n e woman a k e each o t h e r f o r husband and w i f e . " 23 Pa. C.S. 102.

156. By e f i n i n g m a r r i a g e i n t h i s way, h e C o m m o n w e a l t h d i s c r i m i n a t e so n t h e b a s i s o f e x . For example, l a i n t i f f Angela Gillem i s not p e r m i t t e d t o marryp l a i n t i f f G a i l Lloyd s o l e l y b e c a u s e t h e y a r e b o t h w o m e n . I f Angela(o r G a i l ) werea m a n , h e m a r r i a g e would be a l l o w e d . Th e o n l y r e a s o n t h e m a r r i a g e i s p r o h i b i t e di s t h e s e x o f h e p a r t n e r s .

1 5 7 . I n a d d i t i o n , t h e C o m m o nw e al t h s has m a d e "void i n t h i sC o m m o n w e a l t h " a ny "marriage between p e r s o n s o f h e s a m e sex . . . e n t e r e d i n t oi n a n o t h e r s t a t e o r f o r e i g n j u r i s d i c t i o n , even i f v a l i d where e n t e r e d i n t o . " 23 Pa.


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C . S . 1 7 0 4 . The a r r i a g e ofdwin i l l andDavid a l m e r , o r example,sd e n i e d r e c o g n i t i o n s o l e l y b e c a u s e t h e y a r e b o t h men.

1 5 8 . TheSupremeCourth a s made l e a r t h a t p e r p e t u a t i o n ofr a d i t i o n a l

g e n d e r r o l e s i s n o t a e g i t i m a t e governmentn t e r e s t .1 5 9 . Given h a t t h e r e a r e no o n g e r l e g a l d i s t i n c t i o n s between h e d u t i e s of

husbandsandw i v e s , h e r e i s no a s i s f o r t h e s e x- b a s e d e l i g i b i l i t y r e q u i r e m e n t s f o rm a r r i a g e .

1 6 0 . The e f e n d a n t s can e m o n s t r a t e no x c e e d i n g l y p e r s u a s i v ej u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r t h i s d i s c r i m i n a t i o n b a s e d on e x .

1 6 1 . Commonwealt hlaw r o h i b i t i n g m a r r i a g e and e c o g n i t i o n ofa r r i a g e

f o r same- s e x c o u p l e s t h u s v i o l a t e s t h e Equalr o t e c t i o n C l a u s e .1 6 2 . D e f e n d a n t s , a c t i n g u n d e r c o l o r oft a t e law, a r e d e p r i v i n g p l a i n t i f f s of

r i g h t s s e c u r e d by h e Equal r o t e c t i o n C l a u s e ofh e F o u r t e e n t h Amendment o t h e

U n i t e d S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n i n v i o l a t i o n of2.S.C. 9 8 3 .PRAYERFORRELIEF

WHEREFORE,l a i n t i f f s r e s p e c t f u l l y r e q u e s t t h a t t h i s C o u r t :

1 . E n t e r a e c l a r a t o r y judgmenth a t 23 a.C . S . 102and1704v i o l a t e t h e D u e r o c e s s C l a u s e of h e F o u r t e e n t h Amendment o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

C o n s t i t u t i o n ;

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2. Enter a d e c l a r a t o r y judgment h a t 2 3 Pa. C.S. 1102 and 1704v i o l a t e the Equal P r o t e c t i o n Clause of he Fourteenth Amendment. o t h e United

S t a t e s C o n s t i t u t i o n ;3. Enter a permanent n j u n c t i o n enjoining defendants from denying the

p l a i n t i f f couples an d a l l o t h e r same-sex couples the r i g h t t o marry i n theCommonwealth of ennsylvania an d d i r e c t i n g defendants to recognize marriagesv a l i d l y entered i n t o by the p l a i n t i f f couples an d other same-sex couples o u t s i d e ofthe Commonwealth of ennsylvania;

4. Award o s t s of u i t , including reasonable a t t o r n e y s ' fees under 42U.S.C. 1988; and

5 . E n t e r a l l f u r t h e r r e l i e f t o which p l a i n t i f f s may be u s t l y e n t i t l e d .HANGLEYARONCHICKSEGALPUDLIN~ SC ILLEff ~I

Mark A. Aronchick(PA ID No. 0261)John S. S t a p l e t o n(PA ID No. 200872)Dylan J . S t e i n b e r g(PA ID No. 03222)Rebecca S. Melley(PA ID No . 206210)

On e Logan S q u a r e , 27th F l o o rP h i l a d e l p h i a ;PA 19103(215) 68-6200maronchick@hangley. omj t a p l e t o n @ h a n g l e y . omd s t e i n b e r g @ h a n g l e y . [email protected]

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James D. sseksL e s l i e CooperAMERICAN IVIL LIBERTIESUNIONFOUNDATION125 Broad S t r e e t , 1 8 t h FloorNew ork,NY 0004(212) 49-2500j [email protected]@aclu.orgWitold J . Walczak(PAID No. 2976)ACLUFOUNDATIONOFPENNSYLVANIA313 Atwood S t r e e tP i t t s b u r g h , PA 15213(412) [email protected] C a t h e r i n e Roper(PA D No. 71107)Molly Tack-Hooper(PA D No. 307828)ACLUFOUNDATIONOFPENNSYLVANIAP.O. Box 0008P h i l a d e l p h i a ,PA 19106(215) [email protected] p r@aclupa. rgSeth F . Kreimer(PAID No. 6102)3400 Chestnut t .P h i l a d e l p h i a , Pa. 19104(215) 98-7447s k r eimer@law. penn. du

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