Judge: PA Gay Marriage Ban Unconstitutional

A federal judge declared Pennsylvania's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional today, making Pennsylvania the last Northeast state to allow same-sex marriage.

In his 39-page written opinion Judge John E. Jones III said, "We are a better people than what these laws (banning same-sex marriage) represent. It is time to discard them into the ash heap of history."

State Attorney General Kathleen had had declined to defend the ban in court, but the Corbett administration went ahead, arguing that states have the right to determine the definition of marriage.

The state could still challenge the decision before the 3rd US Circuit Court of Appeals.

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