I just wanted to update those who read my diary yesterday (and those who didn't) about the draconian anti-gay amendment that was supposed to be up for a vote in the Pennsylvania House State Government Committee today. From my diary yesterday:
Tomorrow will be a very important day for gays and lesbians in Pennsylvania. The House State Government Committee is set to vote on HB 1434, a draconian bill introduced by virulently homophobic Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R) that would define marriage as between one man and one woman in the state constitution.
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But this legislation is much more far-reaching than just banning marriage equality. It would not only ban same-sex marriage in the state constitution, but it would also bar any type of recognition, including civil unions and domestic partnerships. But that's not all. If the amendment passes, thousands of gay and lesbian Pennsylvanians who currently enjoy domestic partnership benefits through municipalities, state-owned schools, or other facilities would immediately lose their benefits (not to mention their dignity).
It wasn't looking good for equality advocates yesterday. But today, the committee abruptly pulled the bill and put it on the back burner.
From LGBTQNation:
The House State Government Committee on Tuesday abruptly delayed its vote on a measure that would establish an amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution, redefining marriage as “the legal union of only one man and one woman.”
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State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler County), who currently serves as the committee’s chair, came under withering criticism from former committee chair, Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia).
Josephs argued Monday that Metcalfe’s bill should be pressured to remove from the committee’s agenda.
“Instead of finding ways to create jobs and promote a healthier, more prosperous Commonwealth, Harrisburg Republicans have started a war on women’s health and now they’re attacking committed LGBT couples and families all over the country,” said Josephs, who has introduced separate legislation to give legal recognition to same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.
Good news. For now. Nobody really seems to know exactly why the bill was pulled or if it will come back.
According to Capitol Ideas, Metcalfe pulled the bill because of the large number of amendments attached to it. Will it be back? I'm seeing no concrete answer either way.
Equality Pennsylvania reacts:
Today Equality PA, working in partnership and cooperation with our allies and friends at the ACLU of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Diversity Network, Equality Partners of Western Pennsylvania, NEPA Rainbow Alliance, Keystone Progress, SEIU, The Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents, the LGBT Community Center Coalition of Central PA, EQPA’s Student Network Across Pennsylvania (SNAP), the Gay and Lesbian Executive Committee (GLEC), Philadelphia Family PRIDE, the Gay and Lesbian Taskforce, the Human Rights Campaign, Delaware Valley Americans United, Working America, Erie Gay News, Philadelphia Gay News and bloggers Sue Kerr, Tom Waters and Lauren Daley…
…succeeded in having House Bill 1434, the mean-spirited and nonsensical constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage, pulled from the agenda for consideration by the House State Government Committee.
HB 1434 was on its way for a vote and we worked tirelessly
to make sure that never happened.
This is tough work but it is what we do and Equality PA
will not rest until this bill is dead and defeated.
Ultimate passage of the amendment seems unlikely, considering it will have to pass two consecutive sessions of the legislature before it is placed on the 2013 ballot. But it's important to keep the pressure on Pennsylvania legislators so this disgusting amendment doesn't rear its head again. If you're a Pennsylvania resident,
contact your elected officials and
sign Equality Pennsylvania's petition. We can beat this - we've done it three times already, and we can do it again.