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Pennsylvania State Senator John Eichelberger is announcing today his intentions to introduce a bill banning same-sex marriage in his state. According to the the Philadelphia Inquirer:"Similar measures in the last two sessions of the legislature have failed. Pennsylvania law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. But Eichelberger and other proponents of the amendment say writing the ban into the constitution would prevent a judge from overturning the law. Opponents say the measure would enshrine discrimination into the constitution. Amending the constitution requires approval from both the House and Senate in two consecutive two-year sessions before the measure goes to voters for final approval in a statewide referendum."The Philadelphia Daily News does a good job reporting on the chances marriage equality has in a state where the demographic is highly senior (third oldest state in the nation) and Catholic (not to mention Pennsylvania Amish and other "conservative, religious sects"), with these groups overwhelmingly disapproving of same-sex marriage. Thought the support is high among those 40 and under, the demographic shift has yet to mature.
"Clearly, Pennsylvania is among Alabama and Mississippi in terms of gay rights," Malcolm Lazin, the executive director of the Equality Forum, the gay-rights-advocacy group based in Philadelphia, told the Daily News.
"Lazin and other activists say that same-sex marriage will need to wait until the issue garners more local support and that their main priority is to promote legislation that will add Pennsylvania to the ranks of a majority of other states in offering full workplace protection to gays and lesbians," the Daily News reports.
ACTION! If you live in Pennsylvania, contact Sen. John Eichelberger through his homepage email form and tell him you disapprove!
If you have friends in Pennsylvania, especially LGBT allies, call them and urge them to contact their representatives with disapproval for this discriminatory bill.
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