Bloomberg reported that Pennsylvania is the latest US state who now allows gay marriage after a state judge has struck down the ban. The court decision makes Pennsylvania the 25th state to have same-sex marriage declared legal by courts, lawmakers or voters.
In his ruling made yesterday, U.S. District Judge John Jones said, "We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history."
Since the US Supreme Court has overturned a portion of the controversial 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which stipulates that the federal government recognize traditional marriages only. The nation's top court had also rejected an appeal on a court decision that led to the strikedown of the voter-approved gay marriage ban in California.
Pennsylvania's Office of General Counsel spokesman Josh Maus, whose office defended the same-sex marriage ban, said that the office is reviewing all of the legal issues pertaining to the strikedown of the state marriage ban. He fell short of divulging of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett has plans on seeking a stay on the decision or whether the state governor will fill a petition to the US Court of Appeals in Philadelphia. Bloomberg noted that the state has 30 days to seek legal action to challenge the ruling.
Director Frank Schubert at Washington-based National Organization for Marriage told the news agency that courts all over the country had misinterpreted the Supreme Court ruling and have overstepped their authority on the matter. In a phone interview, he said, "It's very disappointing that these judges would assume for themselves the power to define marriage when the decision has been made by the people of their respective states. (The Supreme Court) is going to have to decide whether the constitution recognizes same-sex marriage or leaves it to the states. We believe the court will rule our way."
