Some big news today from my home state of Pennsylvania:
http://www.philly.com/...
A federal lawsuit seeking to overturn Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriage will be filed Tuesday by 11 gay couples and others who say their rights and dignity have been trampled.
The suit comes 13 days after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the federal law that defined marriage as between a man and a woman, and as national polls show that record numbers of Americans support gay unions.
"Our lives are the same as other people's lives, and we certainly deserve the same rights and benefits," said plaintiff Maureen Hennessey, who legally married another Philadelphia woman in Massachusetts. When her spouse died, Hennessey said, she suffered financial penalties not imposed on heterosexual widows. - Philadelphia Inquirer, 7/9/13
And the ACLU is helping make marriage equality a reality in the Keystone State:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the group is filing a lawsuit against Pennsylvania's same-sex marriage ban. The move will also aim to keep state officials from mounting further challenges against same-sex couples seeking to marry.
According to the Washington Post, 23 plaintiffs will be part of this lawsuit, including 10 gay couples, two children of another couple and the widow of a same-sex couple that was together for 29 years. Susan Whitewood, one of the plantiffs, told the AP that her primary reason for joining the lawsuit was not "legal validation."
"I wanted our relationship to be respected like everybody else's relationship," Whitewood said. "That was first and foremost the reason for doing this."
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette adds that Pennsylvania's Defense Of Marriage Act defines marriage as between a man and woman, while also prohibiting the state from recognizing same-sex marriages held in other parts of the country. - Huffington Post, 7/9/13
But the State Senator who's been fighting to push through a marriage equality bill for a while now is none other than Pennsylvania's Liberal Lion, State Senator and Congressional candidate, Daylin Leach (D. PA-13):
http://www.bloomberg.com/...
A bill introduced by Pennsylvania state Senator Daylin Leach, a Democrat from Wayne, that would provide full marriage rights for same-sex couples in the state was referred to a committee in March and never had a hearing. The Senate recessed last week and won’t return until September.
State Representative Brian Sims, the Philadelphia Democrat who became the first openly gay member elected to the Pennsylvania chamber last year, plans to introduce a similar bill, said his district coordinator, Tim Keller, today.
The ACLU is seeking a ruling that Pennsylvania’s marriage law is unconstitutional and an injunction against denying same-sex couples the right to marry.
The case is Whitewood v. Corbett, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania (Harrisburg). - Bloomberg, 7/9/13
The following State Senators to co-sponsor Leach's bill are Jim Ferlo, D-Pittsburgh; Lawrence M. Farnese Jr., D-Philadelphia; Sean Wiley, D-Erie; and Vincent J. Hughes, D-Philadelphia. With the Supreme Court ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional, Leach's call for marriage equality has gained more momentum:
http://southfloridagaynews.com/...
On June 27, out state Rep. Brian Sims (182nd Dist.) and Rep. Steve McCarter (D-154th Dist.) said they would introduce a bill to allow Pennsylvania to join the now 13 states and Washington, D.C., that have marriage equality.
With the legislature now in recess, Sims and McCarter plan to introduced the bill in early fall.
State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17th Dist.) introduced a similar measure in March, which he first submitted in 2009. Former state Rep. Babette Josephs introduced the first House marriage-equality bill in 2011.
Sims said although he was happy with the defeat of DOMA and Prop. 8, plans had already been in the works for the measure before the Supreme Court rulings.
“Although I was super excited about the decision, what made me to decide to introduce it were my colleagues,” Sims said. “Rep. McCarter has wanted to introduce it for a long time and we both talked at length on introducing it but ultimately what moves legislators the most is other legislators and they came to us and said now was the time.”
McCarter said the Supreme Court decisions provided added momentum.
“Brian and I talked about it and we were looking for the right time and place to move this legislation along. Once the DOMA decision came down, it energized everybody and this was a means to keep the energy running to talk about this particular bill,” McCarter said. “We want to move forward with this legislation in Pennsylvania and keep the issue moving.” - South Florida Gay News, 7/9/13
I received an e-mail from Leach's campaign today praising the ACLU's lawsuit and calling for Pennsylvanians to keep up the fight for marriage equality:
Today, a historic case was filed in Federal Court in Harrisburg that asserts a Federal Constitutional right for gay and lesbian couples to marry their same-sex partners.
As the author of the original marriage equity legislation in Pennsylvania, and as Chair of the LGBT Caucus in the Pennsylvania Legislature, I applaud the ACLU, the other lawyers involved, and the plaintiffs for filing this lawsuit.
For too long in our state, and in much of our nation, our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, friends and colleagues, have been forced live as second-class citizens. Their loving, committed, permanent relationships are not legally recognized, and they are denied basic state benefits that straight, married Pennsylvanians take for granted. This is nothing more than blatant discrimination which cannot co-exist with a Federal Constitution which guarantees "Equal Protection of the laws" to all.
Recently, there has been a wide-spread and accelerating movement to erase the stain of discrimination from our land. More states are passing freedom to marry laws. Currently, almost a third of all Americans live in a place where gay people have the same marriage rights as everyone else. Further, the United States Supreme Court, in US v Windsor, held that the portion of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act ("DOMA") that prohibitsmarried gay couples from receiving federal marriage benefits is unconstitutional.
All of this represents real progress, but the task is not yet complete. Too many gay couples still reside in states where they cannot marry and cannot receive the benefits a state confers on married couples. Too many gay people continue to endure the indignity of having their most intimate personal relationships considered inferior in the eyes of the law.
While political change has been positive, it will never comprehensively and completely end discrimination as it must be ended. Just like democratic progress on civil rights did happen in decades gone by, it was ultimately necessary for the courts to intervene in places where a political end to discrimination just wasn't going to happen.
This is because in America, a "right" is just that, a right. It is not a suggestion. It is not something a political majority may grant or deny at its whim. A right is something to which each of us is entitled, whether it is politically popular at a given moment, or in a given state. Gay people have the RIGHT to be free from discrimination, and to have their marriages recognized as the equals of any marriage, in every state.
It is my hope that the cases filed today will not only prevail at trail, but will squarely present to the United States Supreme Court the question of whether discrimination may constitutionally exist anywhere in this nation. And that the Court will say, in the words of Justice Kennedy from theWindsor decision that discrimination against gay people "serves no legitimate purpose" and will finally, at long last, bring full freedom to our land.
Sincerely,
Daylin
Local political analysts are skeptical that the PA legislator will repeal Pennsylvania's same-sex marriage ban but some experts believe that same-sex marriage could be a serious issue in next year's gubernatorial race:
http://citizensvoice.com/...
The proposed legislation has "zero to no chance" of becoming law this year or next year, said Thomas Baldino, a Wilkes University political science professor who also serves on Luzerne County's election board.
Pennsylvania is one of 37 states that doesn't issue marriage licenses to gay couples or recognize same-sex marriages from other states.
"With conservative Republicans blocking even moderate measures related to the budget in the House, it is highly unlikely for that chamber to pass a same-sex marriage or civil union bill," Baldino said.
After the U.S. Supreme Court decision on June 26, Gov. Tom Corbett - through a spokesperson - said he continues to oppose gay marriage, believing marriage is only between a man and a woman. Democrats planning to challenge the Republican incumbent in 2014 hailed the decision.
Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said state voters "are ready for a conversation about why marriage matters to all families." Martin added he expects same-sex marriage to be a key issue next year in the gubernatorial race and campaigns for state legislative seats.
"It's no longer a taboo question," Martin said, explaining politicians who support same-sex marriage are no longer avoiding the issue. "The days of dodging are rapidly coming to an end." - Citizens Voice, 7/8/13
Franklin & Marshall College conducted a poll in May which showed 54 percent of state voters polled support same-sex marriage, up from 33 percent in May 2006. But G. Terry Madonna, a pollster and professor of political science at Franklin & Marshall, believes that same sex ban has more of chance being overturned by the Supreme Court than being repealed by the state legislature:
Madonna said he does not expect to see campaign ads from candidates on TV next year promoting same-sex marriage because there isn't "enough support." He added he didn't think the issue would result in Democratic gains in the House or Senate. - Citizens Voice, 7/8/13
But that's not stopping Gubernatorial candidate, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D. PA-13), who has long been an opponent of Pennsylvania's same-sex marriage ban, from speaking out and calling on marriage equality to be legalized:
http://www.usatoday.com/...
The law passed in 1996 with overwhelming majorities in the state Legislature. During debate, the lawmaker who wrote the amendment, Republican House Rep. Allan Egolf, said: "This amendment does not take anything away from anyone that they now have. It is simply an expression of Pennsylvania's traditional and longstanding policy of moral opposition to same-sex marriages."
One opponent, then-state Sen. Allyson Schwartz — now a Democratic member of Congress who plans to challenge Corbett in next year's election — told colleagues that the bill discouraged tolerance, privacy and committed relationships.
"Our country was founded on the principles of liberty and justice for all," Schwartz told colleagues. "It is our responsibility, in fact our obligation, as elected officials to assure a society that prohibits discrimination against any class of people." - USA Today, 7/9/13
Madonna may be right about how same-sex marriage won't be the issue that helps defeat Governor Tom Corbett (R. PA) in next year's election and help Democrats gain seats in the state House and Senate. But it's still an important issue and Leach and Schwartz have been on the right side of this issue even when the same-sex ban was popular. It can still be an issue that can get people out to the polls and it can be used to showcase how out of touch Corbett and that state GOP are with the majority of voters.
I will be writing a diary soon advocating that the Daily Kos endorse Daylin Leach's case soon. His stance on marriage equality is just one of many examples of why he's the Better Democrat we need in Congress. Leach is running for Schwartz's only seat and even though it's a Safe Blue district, Leach has some serious competition going in the primary. His opponent include State Senator Brendan Boyle, former Congresswoman Marjorie Margolies and physician and activist Valerie Arkoosh, who had a very strong fundraising quarter:
http://www.politicspa.com/...
Physician and activist Valerie Arkoosh maintained a strong fundraising effort in the second quarter. She brought in more than $285,000 in April, May and June, her campaign said.
It brings her total raised so far to $503,000. Her campaign did not announce its cash on hand.
“I am so grateful for the support I’ve received over the last several months,” said Arkoosh, “It tells me that people want more than a politician right now, they are tired of career politicians who, candidly, haven’t brought any new ideas or expertise to the table.”
“If we want quality healthcare, strong schools, and an economy that works for everyone, we need a new kind of leadership now more than ever.” - Politics PA, 7/8/13
Leach has been doing well with fundraising as well and I don't really have a lot of bad things to say about any of his primary opponents at this time. But it's clear that Leach is the best of the bunch and deserves our support. If you would like to get involved with Leach's campaign, you can do so here:
http://votedaylin.com/
And if you would like to get involved with Equality Pennsylvania you can do so here:
http://www.equalitypa.org/