US: Mayor of Pittsburgh to marry 20 same-sex couples in mass wedding at Pride
The Mayor of Pittsburgh will marry 20 same-sex couples in a mass wedding at Pride next month, to celebrate marriage equality in Pennsylvania.
Bill Peduto, the city’s Democratic mayor who assumed office in January, will perform a mass wedding on June 15 at Pittsburgh PrideFest.
He said in a statement: “I said last week I would be thrilled to make the marriage of an LGBT couple the first I officiate as Mayor, and being able to share that moment with many others should make for an even more joyous celebration.”
Pennsylvania became the 19th US state to recognise same-sex marriage last week, following days behind Oregon.
Striking down a Constitutional marriage ban last Tuesday, Judge John Jones wrote: “We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.”
The state’s governor refused to appeal the ruling, cementing same-sex marriage as law.
Judge Jones later stated: “We had to assume that it might be appealed and that I might not have the last word.”
“It is remarkable when you write something as a district court and you find out within the week that it is the final decision.”
