Pennsylvania Governor Will Not Appeal Marriage Equality Decision

Pennsylvania Becomes 19th State to Allow Marriage for Same-Sex Couples

May 21, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: 212-549-2666, media@aclu.org

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Governor Tom Corbett announced today that he will not appeal yesterday’s federal court decision striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples. His announcement makes the commonwealth the 19th state to grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry. The case was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, volunteer counsel from the law firm of Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller, and University of Pennsylvania School of Law Professor Seth Kreimer.

"We applaud the governor for letting the constitutional principles of freedom and equality ring throughout Pennsylvania by allowing loving same-sex couples to marry. As the judge noted, we are a better people than the marriage ban and the Governor’s historic decision not to appeal will be an enduring legacy." – Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Mark Aronchick of Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller.

"This is a milestone for our movement. It reinforces the reality that this isn’t a partisan issue. It’s about fundamental fairness and dignity for all people, including lesbians and gay men," – James Esseks, director of the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project.