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

May 21, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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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 ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û, the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û 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 ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û 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 ÀÏ°ÄÃÅ¿ª½±½á¹û Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project.