HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s governor says he won’t appeal a court decision that struck down the state’s gay marriage ban.
Gov. Tom Corbett’s decision Wednesday means that same-sex marriage will remain legal in Pennsylvania, without the threat that a higher court will reinstate the ban.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Court Judge John Jones III struck down Pennsylvania’s 1996 law banning recognition of gay marriage, calling it unconstitutional.
Corbett’s decision goes against his political beliefs. He opposes same-sex marriage and supported thus-far unsuccessful efforts to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage.
But he says an appeal would be “extremely unlikely to succeed.”
Pennsylvania is the 19th state to recognize same-sex marriages. Hundreds of gay couples apply for marriagelicenses after Jones’ ruling Tuesday.
Pennsylvania is the last northeastern U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.
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Thank you for making a wise and humane choice, Governor Corbett. Even if it goes against your personal convictions, it is wise to realize that the appeal would have little chance of success, cost the taxpayers money that could be better spent elsewhere, and drag out the suffering for the couples who just want to marry.
Tom Corbett says: I’m getting fired anyway, so fuck you, Pennsyltucky.
Personal beliefs and the protections afforded by the Constitution can be two quite different things. And that’s why the appeal has no chance to succeed.
Corbett currently has approval ratings in the low 30s and a disapproval rating of 58%.
He’s not doing this out of the kindness of his heart----which is small, shriveled and hard as stone.
He’s doing this in the vain hope that it will somehow magically make him re-electable in November.
He could not be more wrong about that.
People sometimes do the right thing for the wrong reasons, but I am willing to accept the outcome nonetheless.