AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
May 8, 2013
Issue
Pennsylvania’s Marriage Protection Amendment
Details
Last week Rhode Island became the tenth state to legalize so-called same-sex “marriage.” Yesterday, Delaware became the eleventh. Also, yesterday here in Pennsylvania, Representative Daryl Metcalfe introduced HB 1349 , a Marriage Protection Amendment. The process to amend the PA Constitution is longer than many states. A bill with the exact same language to the proposed constitutional amendment must be passed in two consecutive legislative sessions, then a voter referendum with that language is placed on the ballot and the voters decide whether they want to add that amendment to the PA Constitution.
HB 1349 is a strong two-part amendment which would not only define marriage as between one man and one woman, but forbid the Commonwealth of PA from legally recognizing any relationship that is substantially equivalent to marriage. As noted in our news release, one need only look to Colorado which passed a weak one part amendment simply defining marriage as between one man and one woman in 2006. As of May 1st, civil unions are legal in that state!
If approved by the voters the PA Constitution would be amended with the following language:
“Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized.”
Action Steps
Go to our ACTION CENTER to contact your State Representative and ask him or her to support HB 1349.
