Pennsylvania Attorney General, Kathleen Kane, made a historic announcement yesterday in refusing to defend the state’s ban on marriage equality, following an ACLU suit against the state, in which she is named as a defendant. Kane has affirmed numerous times that she supports full LGBTQ equality, including marriage rights. The governor or a legislator could sue Kane in an attempt to force her to uphold the law, but it’s most likely that defense of the law will simply be passed over to the governor’s office. Governor Tom Corbett is a staunch opponent of marriage equality, and supports a state constitutional amendment to ban it. PA’s version of DOMA was adopted by the General Assembly in 1996.
Kane’s refusal to enforce the ban on same sex marriage is another blow to “traditional marriage” proponents. According to recently poll numbers, 52% of Pennsylvanians support marriage equality.
The ACLU lawsuit against the state is the first of its kind following the repeal of DOMA. If successful, it could lead to the overturning of similar laws banning same sex marriage in Indiana, Illinois, Wyoming, and West Virginia.
Pennsylvania News Media Responds to AG Kane’s Announcement
Erie
Pa. attorney general won’t defend gay marriage ban – Associated Press (via Go Erie)
Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kane won’t defend gay marriage ban – ABC Philadelphia
Kane: Cannot defend Pa. law against gay marriage – Philadelphia Inquirer
The Kane Mutiny – Philadelphia Daily News
Kane says state’s ban on gay marriage ‘wholly unconstitutional’ – Philadelphia Daily News
Kane: Cannot defend Pa. law against gay marriage – Philadelphia Inquirer
Attorney General Kane Will Not Defend PA Gay Marriage Ban – WTXF (Fox Philadelphia)
Lehigh Valley
Some call Kane brave for not defending state in gay marriage case; others call it political – Allentown Morning Call
Attorney General Kathleen Kane: I won’t defend Pennsylvania law banning gay marriage – WFMZ 69 (Allentown)
State attorney general will not defend DOMA – Pocono News
Central PA
Kane passes buck on gay marriage – Lancaster News Era
Kane paints Corbett into a corner with refusal to defend gay marriage ban: analysis – The Patriot News
Attorney General Kathleen Kane will not defend PA’s DOMA – Fox 43
Democrats hail Kane’s refusal to defend law barring gay marriage; GOP says she’s neglecting her job – The Patriot News
AG Kane will not defend Pa. against gay marriage suit – WHTM 27 (ABC)
Our View: Kane must support gay-marriage ban – The Carlisle Sentinel
Northeastern PA
Kathleen Kane Says ‘No’ To Defending State Law – WNEP 16 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
Kane: No Defense Of Same Sex Marriage Ban – WNEP 16 (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre)
AG won’t defend Pa. in gay-marriage suit – Times Leader
Southwestern PA
Pa. attorney general will not defend DOMA – WJAC 6 (Johnstown)
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane won’t defend gay marriage ban – WTAE 4 (ABC)
Pennsylvania AG Kane will not defend DOMA – Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Pennsylvania attorney general won’t defend gay marriage ban – Pittsburgh Tribune Review
National
Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania Attorney General, Will Not Defend State’s Gay Marriage Ban – Huffington Post
Who is Kathleen Kane? – Washington Post
AG won’t defend Pennsylvania’s gay marriage ban – Washington Post
Move for Gay Marriage Gets a Lift in Pennsylvania – New York Times
Pa. attorney general says she won’t defend state’s gay marriage ban – Washington Post
Gay marriage puts Tom Corbett in bind – Politico
Pennsylvania AG Kathleen Kane refuses to defend law banning gay marriage – Metroweekly (DC)
Penn. AG Won’t Defend State’s Marriage Ban – The Advocate