HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) -- Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett has compared the marriage of same-sex couples to the marriage of a brother and sister during an appearance on a morning TV news show.

The Republican made the remark Friday on WHP-TV in Harrisburg when asked about a statement his lawyers made in an August court filing.

The attorneys had said gay marriage licenses have no "value or legitimacy" in Pennsylvania and can't be defended in court. They compared gay couples to children, who can't marry because a 1996 law says marriage is between a man and a woman.

Corbett has called that statement inappropriate.

Video via WHP-TV, in Harrisburg, PA.

TOM CORBETT: It was an inappropriate analogy, you know. I think a much better analogy would have been brother and sister, don’t you?

SHERRY CHRISTIAN: I don’t know. I don’t know… Umm… Yeah, I’m going to leave the comments to your and your team, but you did say it was inappropriate and you have a better phrasing that you think.