Supporters of marriage equality in Pennsylvania rallied in celebration Tuesday after a federal judge struck down the state's ban on marriage between same-sex couples.
Shortly after the ruling, dozens rallied outside City Hall in Philadelphia holding signs reading "Love Wins!"
And rainbow pride flag was raised outside.
Raising the flag at City Hall! #DecisionDayPA #freedomtomarry #gaymarriage @aclupa @davidbadash
Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, an openly gay member of the state's legislature, told BuzzFeed the rally was "huge" and a prime example of how the LGBT community and its allies come together in the city.
#Philly City Hall is packed! #DecisionDayPA
"Obviously all of us are excited," Sims said. "It's not lost on any of us. But Pennsylvania still doesn't have basic civil rights protections for LGBT people."
Indeed, the state lacks basic protections against discrimination based on "sexual orientation" and "gender identity and expression" in the areas of employment, housing, and public accommodations.
"Now, there's even more pressure on us to make it so that these families getting married don't go back to their offices are fired for marrying their partners, or going home and getting evicted for hanging up a photo of them on their mantel," he said. "I'm certain that 50% of the LGBT isn't trying to get married tomorrow, but I know that 100% would be affected by a nondiscrimination law tomorrow."
A similar rally was held in Harrisburg, where marriage equality supporters gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol.
Newly engaged, Jefferson Rougeau (left) and Steven Creps (right) cheered and posed for photos in front of the capitol building.
And one of the plaintiff couples who brought the lawsuit challenging the ban, Julie Lobur (left) and Marla Cattermole (right), waved and looked on at supporters.
Meanwhile, same-sex couples flocked to county registers of wills to receive marriage licenses, like Ashley Wilson (left) and Lindsay Vandermany (right). However, state law requires all couples to wait three days before their marriages can be officiated.
In some cases, orphans court judges could grant emergency waivers of the three-day waiting period, but according to Caren Berger, deputy in charge of litigation at the Orphans' Court in Philadelphia, no such waivers have been granted to same-sex couples there as of late Tuesday afternoon.
"As far as we know, that has not happened," Berger told BuzzFeed. "Right now, the three-day waiting period is in effect."
This means that couples can receive their marriage licenses, but they have to wait three days to legally marry, she added.
Rue Landau and Kerry Smith received a marriage license in Philadelphia and were the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in Pennsylvania, according to several reports.
Rue Landeau and partner Kerry Smith now have marriage license
Here's another couple, Carolyn Caton (left) and Noelle Foizen (right), applying for a marriage license in Philadelphia.
And here, Mike Tkach (left) and Bill Lechner (right) become the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in Erie County, Penn.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, who defended the state's ban on marriages for same-sex couples in court, has not yet said if he plans to appeal the ruling, but did say his office is reviewing the decision and will make a statement on Wednesday.
