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Harrisburg, PA – Tuesday, January 26, 2010, State Senator John H. Eichelberger, Jr. formally introduced Senate Bill 707, a joint resolution to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to include the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman…

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you know that while I’m all for Marriage Equality, when it comes to Pennsylvania, it is low on my list of issues to work towards. In a state where a person can be fired for simply being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgendered, what is the value of having gay marriage? The simple act of applying for a marriage license could place many people across the state in jeopardy of losing their jobs, being denied housing or public accommodations. but for me, this move by Senator Eichelberger isn’t really about gay marriage. At it’s core, it is all about writing discrimination into the PA constitution, and that is just plain wrong!

Now, the reason they want to write discrimination into the constitution, is in the hopes of slowing down any progress towards marriage equality. I almost wrote “killing the possibility of marriage equality.” But we know from looking at other states, that when brought before the courts, constitutional bans are seen as unconstitutional. So, in the end, even if this makes it into the constitution, at some point farther down the road, it will be found to be unconstitutional, and will eventually be overturned. but when and at what cost, both in literal dollars and other ways?

Opponents to same-sex marriage claim that whenever this issue is put up to a vote by the people it loses. That is not really a fair statement. A more accurate statement is this: Whenever same-sex marriage is put up for a vote by the people, opponents can launch a campaign of fear mongering, lies and misinformation that is successful at scaring people to vote “No”

Pennsylvania already has a law that bans same-sex marriage. Is there really a need at this time to go farther and write discrimination into the PA Constitution? Is this what we want our senators and representatives spending their time on in Harrisburg? Is this the state we want to see for our children, our families, our friends and our neighbors? As a state, we already see young people leaving in droves, moving to other places across the country where they have a better chance at a full and happy life. Do we really want to continue to push people away by stepping back in time and embracing discrimination?

The following 15 state senators are co-sponsors of the PA Marriage Amendment! Join me by calling them and asking them to remove their sponsorship from this legislation.

• Sen. Richard Alloway: 717-264-6100
• Sen. Michael Brubaker: 717-627-0036
• Sen. Jake Corman: 814-355-0477
• Sen. John Eichelberger (Lead sponsor): 814-695-8386
• Sen. Edwin Erickson: 610-853-4100
• Sen. Mike Folmer: 717-274-6735
• Sen. John Gordner: 570-784-3464
• Sen. Richard Kasunic: 724-626-1611
• Sen. Bob Mensch: 215-529-1215
• Sen. Raphael Musto: 570-654-1483
• Sen. Jeffrey Piccola: 717-896-7714
• Sen. Robert Robbins: 724-588-1323
• Sen. Joseph Scarnati: 814-726-7201
• Sen. Lloyd Smucker: 717-397-1309
• Sen. Donald White: 724-357-0151
• Sen. Gene Yaw: 570-322-6457

via Senator Eichelberger.

This is from the Pennsylvania Progressive, a wonderful blog. A few days old, but a very good read. In it, is a letter from Carol Wise, Executive Director of the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. I especially appreciate this:

Senator Eichelberger comes from a Christian denomination that, while not supportive of marriage equality, specifically calls upon its members to “challenge openly the widespread fear, hatred and harassment of homosexual persons” as well as “advocate the right to jobs, housing and legal justice.” It is disheartening to hear his disregard of such directives by calling gay and lesbian relationships “dysfunctional;” by his casual dismissal of the needs of the children of lesbian and gay couples; and especially by his disturbing comment that gay and lesbian people are “allowed to exist,” as though our very lives depend upon his generosity.

What I appreciate most is the complexity and reality of it. This denomination is not one that actively supports marriage equality, but still calls its members to challenge…” This,  is a reality that is so often left out of the dialogue by those who suggest that all religious fall on the side opposing rights for GLBTQ citizens.

Eichelberber’s comments are hurtful and dismissive of all GLBTQ’s and are not limited to the issue of Marriage Equality, even though that is the disguise for his bigotry.

The Pennsylvania Progressive:: Mennonite Group Slams Eichelberger For Gay Comments .

While I was away over the weekend, there were a number of bloggers who wrote about thew recent debate between PA State Senators, Daylin Leach and John Eichelberger (R- PA 30th). Two very good resources would be the Pennsylvania Progressive blog, as well as Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents blog. I have linked to the blog below however, to share another voice on the matter.

I want to highlight just one element out of the debate. This quote from Eichelberger:

We’re allowing them to exist and do what every American can do. We’re just not rewarding them with any special designation.

As you read it, pause on the phrase “we’re allowing them to exist…” and ponder changing the reference of them from Gays and Lesbians, to Blacks, Jews, American Indians, Immigrants… whatever group you want.

Could the bigotry of any legislation that denies full equality to the GLBTQ communities be any more flagrant? In addition to ponder the following:

• Who is the “we” about whom Eichelberger is speaking?  The state government? Straight people?  Tax payers? Only straight taxpayers?
• What is the alternative to “allowing them to exist?” This phrase implies that this action is by choice and decision. If one allows one can also disallow.
• The issue being discussed is marriage equality. Eichelberger’s bill would add a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage for Pennsylvania, where as Leach’s bill would allow full marriage equality for gay and lesbian couples. So, what is the “special designation” to which Eichelberger is referring? If anything, marriage as it exists today, grants a special designation to straight people who marry. How exactly would allowing full civil marriage equality provide for any special designation?

A constitutional ban on gay marriage has been defeated within the state twice before. With the budget crisis, and the other issues facing Pennsylvanians, isn’t it time for all of our Senators to stand up against such bigotry, and say enough is enough.

Unleashed: Time to lean on Leanna.