Some in Pennsylvania want the gays to get married. Some do not. Comedy ensues!
State Senator Daylin Leach wants the gay marriage and is introducing legislation to make it happen; it’s being met with counter-legislation from Sen. John Eichelberger, who aims to just ban it.
So Leach and crazypants Pastor Bill Devlin of Redeem the Vote went on the teevee in a Fox 29 interview to debate just how much same-sex marriage will ruin families. Mr. Devlin claims the legislation “makes Pennsylvania look like a backwards state.” Please also count the number of times Devlin says “trainwreck” and “bad,” because those are the only two words he memorized.
NB: We especially like how Devlin turns the religious right’s argument — that marriage strengthens families — on its head to argue in favor of gay nuptials.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
(Video via Gay Rights Media)
me
in my mind pennsylvania was always the last blue state that i would expect to go gay
Charles
There’s a famou saying about Pennsylvania’s political makeup. The state is Philly in the east, Pittsburgh in the left and Alabama in between.
Despite being a huge mix of liberal and conservative ideology, the commonwealth’s very well-liked governor, Ed Rendell is very supportive of LGBT issues, though I don’t think he’s publicly endorsed marriage equality. Before becoming governor, as mayor of Philadelphia, he played one of the most significant roles in helping Philly become one of the most gay-friendly cities to both residents and tourists.
mark Segal
Charles has it correct. At one pivotal point in LGBT history PA was the Vanguard of the gay struggle for equal rights. In 1973, yes 1973 then Gov. Milton Shapp became the first Governor in the nation to outlaw discrimination in state employment, also issued the first statewide Gay Pride resolution, and more important he appointed the Governors Council For Sexual Minorities……. 1973! Since then the state has certainly become Alabama when it comes to Gay issues…… But Philly and Pittsburgh are bright spots.
And Queerty is correct …. it is a train in wreck in the making.
HUGH
Here in Philly, we call the rest of the state ‘Pennsyl-tucky’.
My apologies to those in Kentucky.
Rik
that state senator is so amazingly articulate. I would love to see him debate this issue more often.
Although I guess it didn’t hurt him that his opponent could only sit there sneering and making nonsensical arguments. It amazes me that he could really sit there so sure of himself when all he did was try to counter fact with prejudice.
schlukitz
Getting married is bad for marriage.
I think I’ve got it!
Scott
To my way of thinking, allowing people to join institutions strengthens the institution. Keeping people out weakens it. Marriage or military, it’s the same thing. That’s why “marital” and “martial” are very close to each other! 😉
edgyguy1426
I’m so guilty of typecastong here. I just looked at the 2 guys and assumed they were on opposite sides. My bad.
Shawn
I live in PA…in central PA. Which is quite Republican. They call this place PennTucky…which is quite accurate. I’ve been able to meet both Mr. Leach and Demand an apology from Senator Eichleburger for saying that “We allow them to exists”. He of course did not apologize. Below is link to a video showing what happened. I was the one who actually handed him the signatures (in the orange).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9mk8qo-_Tk
Senator Leach and I have conversed through Emails lately and I was invited to the press conference to introduce the bill. He is a great man even outside of this debate. I will work hard for the bill to pass…but I don’t really know if it will pass. There have been other bills in years past to try and ban our marriages…and they’ve never passed…but I’m not sure if the state is ready to actually accept us yet. We’ll see.
If you live in PA, or even close by and want to help us out…email me and I’ll make sure you get the info.
[email protected]
ben
Daylin Leach is excellent in this clip.
No Homophobama
But we have a president who is against marriage equality “because God is in the mix…” Thank you funky DJ Obama. No shock the other idiots are against marriage equality.
blacknightukalba
There is only one reason for being against Marriage Equality
animus – strong dislike or enmity; hostile attitude; animosity –
borne of homophobia or a mis-guided religious belief(usually based on animus)
In a society which has freedom of and from religion and a legal system based on freedom and reason, this can never be a good reason for a negative or exclusive law.
The founders were determined to remove themselves from laws dictated by priests – lets get rid of the ones which were sneaked in.
religious belief – bourne of ignorance and/or homophobia – the “anti gay” passages in the king james bible and its derivitives are mis-translations from the original hebrew, greek, coptic or latin and then a willful mis-interpretation of those translations, even then; the same people who will gleefully disregard strictures against all manner of conduct will give great store by these mis-translated passages supposedly relating to gay relationships “as the word of god” totally unaware in most cases that these are mis- translated from the original language that they were written in.
They could not be checked with the original, by king james bible authors as these were not available to them – we have no such excuse today!
TANK
TARTAR SAUCE! Something tells me that this Devlin isn’t lord patrick devlin whose arguments against legalizing homosexual acts were destroyed in public debate by the legal philosopher HLA Hart who had a big showy debate about the wolfenden report.
TikiHead
Pastor Bill Devlin of Redeem the Vote is a stupid fucking cunt-moron.
GBM
UMMMMMM Ms No Homophobama
This is about Pennsylvania…..we’ll deal with Federal Marriage later girl so shut up on The Obama shit. Don’t wory queen Queerty got it all locked down for ya!
Stay Tuned!
scott ny'er
Senator Daylin Leach is awesome. I love him.
Pastor Bill Devlin (DEVILN) is evil. And stupid. He NEVER ANSWERS Senator questions and just regurgitates his one argument, which doesn’t make any sense as Senator Leach pointed out.
Ugh. I just really hate these crazy religious freaks who are dogmatic. They just need to try and use their intelligence to THINK things thru.
Dennis
Bill Devlin has some pretty gay-fabulous glasses, and a snappy looking blazer for a stoopid homophobe…
As a priest, you’d think he would be happy for ‘fatherless children’, they might be vulnerable and looking for a older male role model…plum pickens for the savvy molester.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Jay Pat
umm….which America does that pastor live in? 1950s?
FL Queer
I absolutely love Daylin Leach. He was part of an amazingly eloquent debate on NPR that I recommend anyone listen to if they are feeling blue. Having a straight senator be such an articulate advocate for my rights makes me feel all warm and fuzzy. I sent him a facebook note thanking him and friended him.
FL Queer
@FL Queer: Here it is http://www.whyy.org/podcast/061909_100630.mp3
John Simpson
I and my spouse are considering filing a Federal Law suit against the Commonwealth of PA for not recognizing our Massechusitts marriage. I wonder if the PA gay community will support us in this endeavor?