Pennsylvania Lawmaker Hoping to Ban Same-Sex Marriage Finds Support for His Bill Dwindling

Pennsylvania Rep. Darryl Metcalfe yesterday reintroduced a bill that would amend the state Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman.

Said Metcalfe in a statement:

Pennsylvania does not need to wait for the United States Supreme Court to rule on what natural law already declares as self-evident … Marriage is a sacred bond that can only be fulfilled by one man and one woman, as established by God. Final passage of my legislation will allow state lawmakers to exercise their rightful responsibility and obligation to uphold the rule of law and the will of the people.

Phily magazine reports that supporters are fleeing:

In the last session, the bill had 40 supporters, but today, according to a rep from Brian Sims’ office, there are only 27. And this is the first time it’s been introduced with zero Democratic backers. To top it off, his bill’s lackluster show of support comes on the heels of yesterday’s announcement that a record number of legislators on both sides of the fence sponsor legislation that ban discrimination against LGBT people in the workplace and housing and public accommodations.

100 Pennsylvania Lawmakers Introduce Sweeping LGBT Nondiscrimination Bills: VIDEO

A group of 100 Pennsylvania lawmakers introduced two bills yesterday in Harrisburg that would offer sweeping protections to LGBT citizens across the state.

PGH City Paper reports:

A broad group of state lawmakers today introduced bills HB 300/SB300, which would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression statewide in employment, housing, credit and public accommodations. And they cited a record high level of support for the measures.

"These identical proposals have a common goal — to end, once and for all, the last vestige of legal discrimination in Pennsylvania based on an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity or expression," said state Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Squirrel Hill), a co-sponsor of HB300 with Republican state Rep. Chris Ross, and sponsor of the bill in previous years.

Frankel noted that its the first time the bills have had such broad, bipartisan support, with 77 sponsors in the House and 25 in the Senate.

Pennsylvania's first openly gay elected lawmaker Brian Sims (pictured) was at the introduction, Newsworks reports. Said Sims:

"On days like today — with the type of equality advocates, activists and warriors that I am joined by on stage — we show once again that the American spirit, the American dream and, most importantly, the American values demand that we as a commonwealth finally evolve."

Watch Sims speak about protecting the rights of all citizens, AFTER THE JUMP...

Philadelphia Passes LGBT Health Bill, and a Civil Union Bill is Introduced in Pennslvania

Pennsylvania Rep. Mark Cohen has introduced a civil union bill in Pennsylvania.

Philly Mag's Josh Middleton reports:

According to a press release I received from Cohen’s office, the bill would define a civil union “would make all state laws applicable to marriage also applicable to a civil union. The bill also would allow reciprocity for civil unions performed legally in other states and the recognition of same sex-marriage in other states as civil unions in Pennsylvania.”

In the press release, Cohen calls civil unions exactly what they are: a “middle-of-the-road compromise position between constitutionally banning and permitting gay marriages.” And just to appease those religious dissenters, he states that, “Nothing in this bill would require any religion or any clergyman to perform any ceremony uniting people in a civil union. This legislation will merely offer committed gay couples the same legal rights that are bestowed upon married people without the status of marriage.”

In other LGBT-related Pennsylvania news, the Philadelphia City Council has voted to approve a broad LGBT health benefits bill, PGN reports:

Bill 130224, which passed with a 14-three vote, would not only give a tax credit incentive to businesses that offered employee health plans that would include same-sex partners and children, but it would also include a substantial amount of benefits to the transgender community as well.

The bill ,which was introduced by Councilman Jim Kenney, would revamp the city’s health care plan to ban discrimination against non-union transgender city employees and would instate a Transgender Health Tax Credit that would allow companies to offer healthcare specific-needs to the transgender community.

City buildings would also be required to provide gender-neutral bathroom and would also ban employment discrimination in the city’s non-discrimination law.

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Comes Out for Marriage Equality

Saying, "As a senator and as a citizen, I can no longer in good conscience take a position that denies her and her family the full measure of equality and respect," Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is the latest U.S. Senator to evolve on marriage equality, in an interview with Philadelphia Gay News:

“After much deliberation and after reviewing the legal, public policy and civil-rights questions presented, I support marriage equality for same-sex couples and believe that DOMA should be repealed,” Casey said in a statement exclusively first released to PGN Monday afternoon...

Casey said he attributes his evolution on the issue in large part to feedback from LGBT Pennsylvanians and their families.

“These stories had a substantial impact on my position on this issue,” the senator said. “If two people of the same sex fall in love and want to marry, why would our government stand in their way? At a time when many Americans lament a lack of commitment in our society between married men and women, why would we want less commitment and fewer strong marriages? If two people of the same sex want to raise children, why would our government prevent them from doing so, especially when so many children have only one parent or none at all?”

Casey had previously backed civil unions for same-sex couples and opposed consitutional bans on same-sex marriage. He has also supported ENDA and 'DADT' repeal.

More at PGN...

Brian Sims Talks Gay Rights Movement With Chris Matthews

On his program this week, Chris Matthews discussed the recent swift rise of the LGBT civil rights movement with MSNBC contributor Joy Reid and openly gay Pennsylvania Representative Brian Sims.  civil rights - acceptance in african american community

In this segment, Reid explains the progressive shift of opinion in the African-American community and Sims talks about how he felt the authenticity and honesty he offered about his identity helped him win his seat in office last year.

Watch the clip, in which Matthews suggests that Sims might one day be governor of his state, AFTER THE JUMP.

Pennsylvania City Councilman Reprimanded, Mocked for Sending 'Gay' Email Out on Emergency Alert System: VIDEO

Washington, Pennsylvania City Councilman Matt Staniszewski has been reprimanded by Mayor Brenda Davis for sending out a citywide emergency email alert that read: "Alert: This is a Test. Brian is gay," KDKA reports:

“This is completely inappropriate and unprofessional coming from an elected official,” Davis said.

According to Davis, a person who had signed up to receive the alerts contacted the city and said they were offended. Davis, who confronted Staniszewski at Monday night’s council meeting, also said she doesn’t know why he had access to the pass codes to send the email.

“His response was that he sent it out and it wasn’t him saying Brian is gay. He said gay means happy,” Davis said.

“Maybe in the 1950s that’s what it meant, but we are in a new era now and that doesn’t represent the City of Washington.”

Staniszewski released the following statement about the incident: "It's offensive and unprofessional for the mayor to automatically assume one definition of the word when there are multiple definitions.”

Jimmy Kimmel mocked Staniszewski on his show last night.

Watch, AFTER THE JUMP...