A deadline to appeal a gay marriage
ruling passed Friday without action from Pennsylvania Governor Tom
Corbett, despite a pressure campaign calling on him to reconsider.
U.S. District Judge John E. Jones on
May 20 struck down Pennsylvania's restrictive marriage ban without
staying his decision. Pennsylvania became the 19th state,
in addition to the District of Columbia, to allow gay couples to
marry when Corbett – a Republican opposed to marriage equality –
decided not to appeal Jones' ruling.
On Wednesday, the American Family
Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) presented Corbett with a
petition signed by more than 2,300 people asking him to reverse
course.
“The Pennsylvanians who signed
petitions asking Governor Corbett to appeal Jones' decision
understand history; they understand the need to provide children with
the role models provided by a mom and a dad,” AFA of PA head Diane
Gramley said in a statement. “They also understand the detrimental
effect so-called same-sex marriage will have upon the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and are asking Governor Corbett to do the right thing
for their children and grandchildren.”
State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe and Senator
John Eichelberger, both Republican, introduced resolutions aimed at
pressuring Corbett to take action.
On Tuesday, a group of Christian
conservative pastors threw their support behind the last-minute
effort.
“Matters such as this plague every
state and should unsettle every American,” said
Sam Rohrer, president of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network, which
has also called for Jones' ouster over his ruling. “The question
for Pennsylvanians today is, 'Who do you want making Pennsylvania
laws? One unelected judge? Or the Representatives you, the people,
elected to the State House to represent your interests?'”
Meanwhile, a county clerk has asked an
appeals court to stay Jones' decision. A decision is expected next
week.
(Related: Pennsylvania
clerk asks appeals court to stay gay marriage ruling.)