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Sen. Casey Issues Statement in Support of Same-Sex Marriage

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During his reelection bid last year US Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) favored civil unions but did not take a position on the same sex marriage debate.  Now, with the question before the US Supreme Court, Casey says he favors marriage equality and believes the federal Defense of Marriage Act should be repealed.

Casey’s official statement concludes: “I understand that many Americans of good will have strong feelings on both sides of this issue.  I believe elected public officials have an abiding obligation to refrain from demonizing and dividing people for partisan or political gain.  Rather, Democrats and Republicans should come together and find areas of agreement to do what’s best for the country, including lesbian and gay Americans.” 

Marriage equality advocates have been putting the pressure on Senators like Casey for weeks now, and Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin released a statement that applauds Casey’s courage and leadership.  “Marriage matters for all families,” Martin writes, “and Senator Casey’s support for marriage for all committed couples puts him squarely on the right side of history.”

Last week state Rep. Brian Sims (D-Philadelphia) sent Casey an open letter urging him to support LGBT equality.  Sims – PA’s first openly gay elected lawmaker – says Casey’s statement shows that he’s listening to the millions of voices of Pennsylvanians calling for him to support same-sex marriage.

Will the Supreme Court Redefine Marriage?

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Marriage equality advocates are calling this week’s US Supreme Court arguments a watershed moment.  Two cases were argued before the high court: one challenges California’s voter-approved same-sex marriage ban, while the other takes to task the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

“In light of everything it really says whether or not fairness and equality mean something to everyone in America, or just certain people in America,” says Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin, “and that’s really the significance for gay people.” 

Martin points to the long list of federal benefits available to straight married couples, which aren’t available to legally married same-sex couples.

But redefining marriage would open a door that cannot be closed, according to Pennsylvania Pastors’ Network president Sam Rohrer.  He says marriage is not man’s idea; it’s God’s idea.  So changing the definition, Rohrer says, would remove any view of higher law. 

“This is the message that is sent to young people who say ‘why be concerned? I can do whatever I want to do.’ That concept is what the changing of the definition of DOMA actually communicates.  That’s a dangerous communication.”

Like many court observers, Rohrer expects the Supreme Court will largely leave the California case untouched.  While hoping the court does the same with DOMA, Rohrer is bracing for a more convoluted decision. 

Regardless of the outcome, Ted Martin hopes all of the attention will promote discussion in Pennsylvania about how to treat its LGBT citizens. He points out that in Pennsylvania a person can still be fired or evicted simply for being gay. 

Recent polling has shown growing support for same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania, but it appears there’s little appetite in the General Assembly to take up legislation that would make them legal.

New Poll Shows Support for LGBT Rights in Pennsylvania

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The Pennsylvania legislature’s growing LGBT Equality Caucus has unveiled a new poll as members call for legislation to protect members of the community.   The membership in the caucus has doubled and is bicameral and bipartisan.

Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) says the growth of the caucus represents  the changing will and mood of the people of Pennsylvania when it comes to simple fairness for LGBT people.

The poll conducted for Equality Pennsylvania finds 62% of the state’s residents believes gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens should be entitled to the same civil rights and protections as other minority groups.  69% agree that LGBT workers should be protected from being fired. 73% agree that it should be illegal to refuse service to someone based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. The poll was conducted by CivicScience of Pittsburgh.

State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery) says Pennsylvania does not have laws to offer those protections.  He says we don’t even have anti-discrimination legislation that has been passed.  He says the hate crimes bill was struck down on technical grounds and not replaced.

Bills being reintroduced in this session would ban discrimination in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations.

Representative Brian Sims (D-Phila), the first openly gay person elected to the legislature, says he’s seeing signs that more colleagues in the state Capitol are finally beginning to recognize that common sense protections are long overdue.

Representative Mark Painter (D-Mont), whose wife is a Methodist pastor, says he believes firmly that discrimination, bullying and hatred are not Christian values.