Ruling on Pennsylvania Same-Sex Marriage Ban Expected Today

A federal court's ruling on same-sex marriage brought by the ACLU on behalf of 21 gay and lesbian couples in Pennsylvania is expected to be handed down today. Philadelphia ABC affiliate WHTM reports.

According to the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Lawyers challenging Pennsylvania's ban on marriage for same-sex couples filed a motion in April asking a federal judge to decide the case on the briefs alone rather than waiting for a previously scheduled June trial.

The lawsuit claims that Pennsylvania's Defense of Marriage Act and refusal to marry gay and lesbian couples or recognize their out of state marriages is a violation of their right to marry and Fourteenth Amendment, which guarantees equal protection.

The ACLU further reports that a trial became unnecessary after the commonwealth stated that it will not call any experts to counter the plaintiffs' argument that there is no rational reason why lesbian and gay couples are excluded from marriage, nor does it plan to dispute the specific harms caused to the plaintiffs by the marriage ban. All legal papers in the case were filed by May 12, a ruling is expected today.

After the court's ruling, the ACLU will be hosting "Decision Day" rallies across the state.