Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett stops court battle against gay marriage

THE governor of Pennsylvania has put a stop to his fight to keep the ban on same-sex marriage in the US state, despite his personal opposition.

Governor Tom Corbett’s decision comes just a day after US District Court Judge John E Jones III struck down Pennsylvania’s same-sex marriage ban on Tuesday. 

Corbett (pictured above), a Republican and practicing Roman Catholic, highlighted that despite his personal beliefs, the decision to halt his court appeal to keep his state’s ban on same-sex marriage was a political one.

“The case is extremely unlikely to succeed on appeal,” Corbett said in a statement yesterday.

“As a Roman Catholic, the traditional teaching of my faith has not wavered… I continue to maintain the belief that marriage is between one man and one woman.

“My duties as governor require that I follow the laws as interpreted by the courts and make a judgment as to the likelihood of a successful appeal.”

The governor’s decision means that same-sex marriage will remain legal in Pennsylvania, without the threat that a higher court will reinstate the ban.

Pennsylvania is now the 19th US state to recognise same-sex marriages and the last in the northeastern region to do so.

Earlier this week, Oregon was the 18th state to allow same-sex marriage, while Arkansas’ temporary week of legal same-sex marriages have been put to a halt thanks to an impending court appeal.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)