Marriage Equality
Marriage is a commitment. It is about creating a family. It is also about rights and responsibilities. Marriage is about sharing, love, trust and compromise. Two adults who make this personal decision to form a life-long commitment should not be denied the right to marry the person they want to marry just because they are gay or lesbian.
Gay and lesbian Pennsylvanians are our neighbors, co-workers, and friends. They pay taxes and serve our communities. They raise children and volunteer with civic organizations. They simply desire the same rights, responsibilities and protections as all other Pennsylvanians.
Denying gay and lesbian couples the right to marry will adversely impact their legal rights in pension, health insurance, hospital visitations, and inheritance that heterosexual couples enjoy.
Today we look back with disbelief that there was a time in American when we did not allow marriage between Catholics and Protestants or between blacks and whites. Unfortunately our laws continue to deny the right to marry to adults who are gay or lesbian. We should not support this kind of discrimination.
People are not being asked to change their religious beliefs and nobody is trying to force any clergy person to perform same-sex weddings. There are many things about modern society that some religious organizations do not endorse. Yet, as a society we are governed by laws and not by religious beliefs.
Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment
Same-sex couples are already denied the right to marry in Pennsylvania. This amendment is unnecessary, unwise and divisive.
With all of the problems that the Pennsylvania Senate should be addressing, it is disturbing that some of the members would spend time and resources to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to make an unnecessary pronouncement about marriage.
The proposed amendment could take away existing legal protections for committed long-term couples and their children, as well as limit other types of relationship recognition. It would also prohibit civil unions.
According to recent polling data, Pennsylvanians statewide support civil unions for lesbian and gay couples by a margin of support of 65% to 27%, or more than two to one. (November 2007, Susquehanna Polling and Research)
Showing posts with label Pennsylvania. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pennsylvania. Show all posts
Monday, March 10, 2008
How to Set-Up a Meeting with Your Legislator
The most effective way to influence your legislators is by meeting with them face-to-face!
First, you need to find out who your State Representative and State Senator is:
Click on the “Find Your Legislator” link on Equality Advocates website, http://equalitypa.org. When you enter your address, the site will provide all of your legislators’ names.
For state legislators, click on the state link and then click on the name of your state representative’s name. The next page provides their contact information.
Now that you know who represents you in Harrisburg, you need to call them to set-up a meeting to discuss either non-discrimination legislation or the Marriage Protection Amendment.
To schedule a local appointment, call the district office phone number. To schedule a capitol appointment, call the Harrisburg office. When legislators are not in session, it is usually easiest to schedule an appointment in their district office.
When you make the call, ask for your legislator’s scheduler. Be prepared to give the scheduler a bill number or the name of the legislation or issue you would like to discuss with your legislator. For example, “I would like to meet with Representative Smith to discuss supporting House Bill 1400, a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination,” or “I would like to meet with Senator Smith to discuss Senate Bill 1250, the ‘Marriage Protection Amendment.’”
The scheduler will try to find a time that is convenient for both you and the legislator. Please be flexible when you try to schedule an appointment. Legislators have many meetings and their availability may be limited – remember to be polite, but persistent about scheduling a meeting.
Prior to attending the meeting, you can review talking points on the bill which can be downloaded from the front-page of our website. If you want to discuss the meeting further, just call Jake at (215) 731-1447 ext. 14.
Good luck and remember, the legislator is your elected official and works for you!
First, you need to find out who your State Representative and State Senator is:
Click on the “Find Your Legislator” link on Equality Advocates website, http://equalitypa.org. When you enter your address, the site will provide all of your legislators’ names.
For state legislators, click on the state link and then click on the name of your state representative’s name. The next page provides their contact information.
Now that you know who represents you in Harrisburg, you need to call them to set-up a meeting to discuss either non-discrimination legislation or the Marriage Protection Amendment.
To schedule a local appointment, call the district office phone number. To schedule a capitol appointment, call the Harrisburg office. When legislators are not in session, it is usually easiest to schedule an appointment in their district office.
When you make the call, ask for your legislator’s scheduler. Be prepared to give the scheduler a bill number or the name of the legislation or issue you would like to discuss with your legislator. For example, “I would like to meet with Representative Smith to discuss supporting House Bill 1400, a bill to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Pennsylvanians from discrimination,” or “I would like to meet with Senator Smith to discuss Senate Bill 1250, the ‘Marriage Protection Amendment.’”
The scheduler will try to find a time that is convenient for both you and the legislator. Please be flexible when you try to schedule an appointment. Legislators have many meetings and their availability may be limited – remember to be polite, but persistent about scheduling a meeting.
Prior to attending the meeting, you can review talking points on the bill which can be downloaded from the front-page of our website. If you want to discuss the meeting further, just call Jake at (215) 731-1447 ext. 14.
Good luck and remember, the legislator is your elected official and works for you!
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