INDIANA, (WOWO): The couples who successfully sued to overturn Indiana's gay-marriage ban are now leading a drive to pressure the state to drop its appeal.

Attorneys general in seven states have refused to defend their state's marriage laws. Same-sex marriage supporters delivered thousands of petition signatures to Attorney General Greg Zoeller urging him to follow suit. Rob MacPherson was among the plaintiffs in the marriage case — he says there's no need for Indiana to pursue the case to the bitter end.

Same-sex marriages became legal in four states after their attorneys general refused to defend the laws in court. In three other states, outside attorneys have stepped in to continue the legal fight.

Indiana Solicitor General Thomas Fisher notes in his brief seeking a stay that every other request for one has been granted, with the U-S Supreme Court itself placing a hold on a ruling which threw out Utah's gay-marriage ban. He says the legality of such bans remains “hotly contested,” and says they should remain in place until the Supreme Court “squarely addresses the issue.” Otherwise, he says there will be “public uncertainty and a sense of chaos” over how Indiana law defines marriage.

All but seven Indiana counties are now issuing marriage licenses. Marion County Clerk Beth White has married about 500 same-sex couples since the ruling was issued Wednesday.