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Despite New York's Approval Of Same Sex Marriage, One Expert Says Pennsylvania Has A Long Way To Go

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – New York's passage of same sex marriage is unlikely to have much impact on Pennsylvania's policy. That's according to Ted Martin, executive director of Equality PA.

Martin thinks it will take a long time for the Keystone State to turn around on the issue.

Ted Martin thinks the New York law is helpful in the quest for same sex marriage in Pennsylvania, "People are seeing the foundations do not crumble when same sex couples are allowed to marry. It hasn't happened in Massachusetts or any of the other five states. In fact, Massachusetts has the lowest divorce rate in the United States."

So, eventually, Martin believes Pennsylvanians will begin to see the institution as simple fairness - but he's not holding his breath. Martin says Pennsylvania has further to go than many states.

"In Pennsylvania, which of course shares a border with New York, there are still active efforts to pass a constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage so we're talking some very different places," says Martin.

Reported By Pat Loeb, KYW Newsradio

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