Discrimination Amendment Moves Along in Senate

A state constitutional amendment legalizing discrimination in Pennsylvania is moving along in the Senate Judiciary committee. The "marriage protection" legislation was amended by Sen. Jane Earll of Erie to delete a reference to civil unions. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article reports:

Mrs. Earll claimed that references in the bill to civil unions just make the legislation confusing to voters. She said it's unnecessary to outlaw civil unions when they don't even exist in Pennsylvania.

"We're fighting hypothetical ghosts here," she said.

Mrs. Earll said the amended bill now reads the same as the 1996 Pennsylvania Defense of Marriage Act, stating that "a marriage is only between one man and one woman." She contended that is sufficient wording.

Republicans are upset over the 9-5 vote to delete the reference to civil unions on several grounds. They want to ban any and all right or possible rights for gays and lesbians. Their mean spiritedness and bigotry knows no bounds. They are also upset because this alters the Senate version of the bill from that which passed the House, meaning it would have to return there for passage before June 30th to meet statutorial requirements. This would mean a delay in enacting a two tiered class system within Pennsylvania based on sexual orientation.

Senator Barry Stout put the issue in some perspective for the newspaper:

During the Judiciary Committee meeting, Sen. Barry Stout, D-Bentleyville, lashed out at his colleagues for spending valuable time on same-sex marriage, when important matters like the state budget and property tax relief need to be enacted.

"I am ashamed this committee is being used to divert attention from important issues," he said. "People are sick and tired of us not dealing with their legislative concerns."

Instead of dealing with property tax reform, lobbying reform, a state constitutional convention to reduce the size of government, campaign finance reform, dealing with th ebudget surplus, passing the budget, and the myriad of other, legitimate concerns, our state legislators are spending their time demonizing one segment of Pennsylvanians.

SHAME ON THEM.