Equality Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania's LGBT-rights advocacy organization, released a statement this afternoon after the Supreme Court of the United States announced it would hear two cases on marriage equality, saying advocates must not "lose sight of the work that will continue at state level."

Pennsylvania has remained a generally unfriendly state legislatively to LGBT residents: It has its own Defense of Marriage Act; lawmakers have failed to enact a proposed statewide anti-discrimination ordinance multiple times, and Republican legislators have previously attempted to end domestic partner benefits for same-sex couples in the state.

Ted Martin, the group's executive director, was meeting with other LGBT organizations in Chicago today to learn how to run successful issue campaigns.

Here's an excerpt from Equality Pennsylvania's statement (you can view the entire statement on their Facebook page):

"In Pennsylvania where LGBT citizens lack even the most basic civil rights protections against discrimination and are certainly denied the right to marry, our work is constant and any opportunity to learn and collaborate will strengthen our mission and ultimately help to create a better state. Today’s decision by the US Supreme Court certainly highlights both the hope and the heat around LGBT issues. Rest assured, Equality Pennsylvania is powered by the former and willing to work through the (sic) later."