Same-Sex Couples Under Threat in PA

This week we celebrated an historic moment for marriage rights, as New York became the most recent and largest state to legalize gay marriage. Congratulations to the New York state legislature, for recognizing that everyone deserves the right to marry the person they love. Unfortunately, here in Pennsylvania, a group of state legislators are attempting to keep same-sex couples from obtaining this basic civil right. House Bill 1434, created by Republican Representative Darryl Metcalfe, states that “Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.” The bill, which currently has 37 sponsors, would not only prevent same-sex couples from obtaining civil unions in Pennsylvania, but would also invalidate any preexisting civil unions in the state, even if they are recognized by other states. The passage of this bill would represent a devastating setback to Pennsylvania’s LGBT community. Make sure you speak up against this discriminatory and unjust bill by signing our petition at www.equalitypa.org.