Pennsylvania won't appeal same-sex marriage ruling

HARRISBURG, Pa. — 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 to recognize same-sex marriages. Hundreds of gay couples apply for marriage licenses after Jones’ ruling Tuesday.

Pennsylvania was the last northeastern U.S. state to outlaw gay marriage.

ASSOCIATED PRESS