WATCH: MontCo Official Defends Gay Marriage on Maddow


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Bruce Hanes, the register of wills in Montgomery County, appears in the clip above to explain why he issued a same-sex marriage license on Wednesday—actually, five such licenses—despite Pennsylvania’s ban on doing so.

Philly.com summarizes:

In a five-minute interview by Maddow, Hanes explained that he found three sections of the Pennsylvania Constitution – which guarantee the civil rights of individuals and prevents discrimination based on sex – at odds with the Defense of Marriage Act, which bans same-sex marriage.

“I really don’t know,” Hanes replied. “…I truly wish them well. I met each and every one of them, they are great people.”

The question: When and who will challenge these marriage licenses? Seems sure to come.