It’s not New England, but it’s close! This news arrives just days after Republican State Sen. John Eichelberger said he intends to introduce a bill to — you guessed it — amend the State Constitution to limit nuptials to opposite marriage. “Civil rights organizations across Pennsylvania today commended Pennsylvania State Senator Daylin Leach for his intention to introduce legislation that would grant full marriage equality to same-sex couples. The Value All Families Coalition praised Senator Leach’s longstanding dedication to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, calling the proposed legislation an inspiring glimpse into the future of equality for all Pennsylvania couples. Senator Leach’s decision to introduce an inclusive marriage bill comes as other states, including Iowa and Maine, pass same-sex marriage legislation and one day after California’s Supreme Court upheld Proposition 8, an amendment to California’s constitution prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples. It also comes at a time when the Pennsylvania House of Representatives is debating House Bill 300, legislation to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations.” [Center For Civil Rights]
Is Pennsylvania Ready to Take California’s Spot As the Next Gay Marriage State?
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Jason in WV
Yay! It’s moving south!
mike
It’s already moved south to Iowa.
REBELComx
As great as this news in, I am skeptical as to it’s power in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. While the state government has TWICE shot down attempts to enshrine marriage inequality in the constitution, the LGBT community in PA is either horribly apathetic or terribly indifferent, even in the major cities. When Prop 8 first passed, there were very few demonstrations planned to put us in solidarity with our CA LGBT brothers and sisters. Here in Allentown (sadly representing the entire Lehigh Valley including Bethlehem and Easton), we had a very small protest (about 32 people) the day AFTER the rest of the country had theirs. And even that protest spent almost the entire day INSIDE an LGBT friendly church. Yeah, way to make the issue visible. When the California Supreme Court upheld Prop 8, there wasn’t ONE SINGLE PROTEST scheduled in PA. You can go to that website that listed all the places planning one, PA wasn’t even on the list.
I know outside of Philly, most of us are pretty spread out and it’s difficult to get us all together (even the Pride organizations have been losing money, even before the financial crisis). The other problem with this is that PA, in a way, is like Florida = we are over run with old people. PA has the 2nd or 3rd largest population of elderly… and they vote in full force.
Don’t get me wrong, I hope it works. I’m not trying to be cynical or pessimistic… just realistic. This is going to be a VERY tough fight, and I’m skeptical that many LGBTers in PA will be up to it.
Stitch
@REBELComx: as a former Pennsylvanian, I have to agree… It’s likely that neither the ban nor the equality bill will pass. The old folks that make up 92% of the population basically vote “no” for anything that would change the status quo.
ChrisM
@REBELComx: I agree with you that Philadelphia, while the birthplace of our nation and the center of political activism historically, has not been a hotbed of activity in the LGBT movement. I would guess it’s because places like Allentown and Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh have in the recent past had their fair share of economic hardship that precluded tackling some of the social issues that other states are doing, CA notwithstanding.
That being said, I know Senator Leach, I have been friends with him for nearly 10 years and I serve as his campaign treasurer… We need to applaud and support every motion, step, bill introduction that an elected official does for the movement to encourage others to do so. Even in Pennsylvania. I’m hopeful – but realistic. But you NEVER get what you don’t ask for.
dgz
@ChrisM: true that. Philly is actually a really gay city, too. but i’m afraid most PA dems are more of the old-boy labor type than progressive reformers.
Jim
This bill will not move. Currently there is a budget impasse between democrat governor Rendell and republican legislature. In true PA fashion that will not get resolved until the summer, well past the deadline. Then the legislature is on break. They will never even debate this bill.
And I agree with @Stitch about the older vote blocking this.
And @ChrisM re: Philadelphia – we are the birthplace of GLBT civil rights. Initial glbt protest started in Philly @ Independence Hall 4 years before the stonewall riots.
Joanaroo
It’s true our state is full of the more traditional voters but I’m hoping PA finally does something progressive for once instead of remaining mired in the “Leave It To Beaver” 50s mindset.
Zack
I am also a former Pennsylvanian, from the Southwestern part of the state. Though the area is mainly rural, with the exception of Pittsburgh and its immediate suburbs, I’ve found that in recent years, this part of the state, as well as other areas, have become increasingly liberal. I think the Pennsylvania identity has a lot to do with this – the demographics of the state are changing, as the old people who populate the state are dying off (PA is the 2nd oldest state in the US, after Florida), and many Western Pennsylvanians don’t consider themselves to be “Midwestern”, and so are more liberal than they might’ve otherwise been. Each election, we hear about the swing-state status of PA – however, the state hasn’t voted for a Republican candidate since 1988. I think times are changing, and while it may take a few more years in Pennsylvania, I think marriage equality will happen in the state. And much earlier than a lot of comparable states.
Joanaroo
You notice how quick the Repubs and likely the Christies are going to be jumping on the Prop H8te bandwagon here in PA. Geezus-another issue my evangelical next-door neighbor (lucky me) can agree to disagree on. I will help my LGBT fellow citizens and follow the news closely. You have my vote and support!
Ben
I don’t think this bill can pass. The Pennsylvania Senate is Republican controlled, and the Pennsylvania GOP is pretty conservative – look at how they steamrolled Arlen Specter out of the party. Maybe in a few years.
Bad Touch Football
RebelComX: This just means we have to work a hell of a lot harder to get what is rightfully ours. Also, most importantly, this is not going to be decided by a voter based initiative as in California, but by the legislative branch of the Commonwealth. Yes, there is a chance of the same thing happening as in California – i.e. some lame voter based initiative that restricts the rights given to people – but if that happens, I, as a resident of Pennsylvania, will start a voter based initiative to disallow heterosexual marriage within the state constitution. Yes I am aware that this is petty and vindictive, but so it restricting same sex marriages, so I think it’s okay
Anarchos
People refer to the interior stretch of the state as ‘Pennsyltucky’ for a reason.
Bruno
Somehow I feel it’s more likely the anti-marriage bill would succeed than the marriage bill, in a state where Alabama lies between Sodom & Gommorrah. Truthfully, neither bill will pass, as expected.
Alec
Pennsylvania reminds me of MI and OH when it comes to gay rights. Not necessarily overtly hostile, but hardly receptive. Note that of the blue states from 2004, I think that MI and PA are the only two that do not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation (maybe also DE if memory serves).
I think a civil union bill is probably DOA in the Pennsylvania senate if it is controlled by Republicans, and I’m not even sure they could rally the Democrats behind a marriage bill.
GayGOP
As a part-time Pennsylvanian, as that is where I go to school, I don’t know if this will pass or not. Something interesting is that in Southern Central Pennsylvania, where I am, I am seeing a lot of HRC Bumper Stickers. It’s rather odd, especially when paired with the Sarah!2012 bumper stickers. I think this could pass if we get the more moderate GOP Senators on our side, and some of the more reasonable GOPers as well. The Dems are going to split 50/50. There’s still a blue-collar, lower-middle-class lean to the Dems in the Commonwealth. If we can get the GOP Senators from outside Philly and Pittsburgh, as well as the ones near Reading, Harrisburg, Erie and Allentown, that is to say the Ridge/Corbett crowd, rather than the Santorum crowd, we could win this. Either way, I think the State of Independence beats out the Empire State and the Garden State for Marriage Equality.