News Release
For Immediate Release: July 7, 2011
Contact: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355
Protecting One Man One Woman Marriage in PA — a Marriage Protection Amendment
(Harrisburg) — The legalization of same-sex so-called marriage in New York increases the urgency for Pennsylvania to protect one man one woman natural marriage. The border city of Binghamton, N.Y. is opening the city clerk’s office on Sunday, July 24th in anticipation of an onslaught of ‘gay’ couples seeking “marriage” licenses, including those from northeastern Pennsylvania as New York has no residency requirement. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA), a statewide advocate for natural one man one woman marriage, recognizes the increased urgency for the passage of HB 1434, the first step in getting a Marriage Protection Amendment before the voters.
“The need for a Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment (MPA) couldn’t be greater as we see where New York legislators went against the will of 57% of New York voters in legalizing same-sex marriage and homosexual activists in New Jersey are not happy with civil unions but want marriage. Now is the time to act and pass a strong MPA in Pennsylvania,” noted Diane Gramley, President of the AFA of PA.
Even though the so-called homosexual marriages will not be legally recognized in Pennsylvania, it lays the groundwork for a legal challenge to our Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). What is happening in New Jersey shows that civil unions will not satisfy homosexuals who want to redefine and claim the word ‘marriage,’ thus proving our point for the need of a strong MPA which also bans civil unions.
“The PA House and Senate are on break until September; this will give the voters an opportunity to go to the district offices and educate their legislators on the absolute need for a Marriage Protection Amendment. Legislators who in the past have been in denial or who have felt a weak amendment which allowed civil unions was sufficient need to wake up and see what’s happening on our borders. The voters expect their elected representatives to act,” Gramley further stated.
HB 1434 was introduced by State Representative Daryl Metcalfe on May 3rd and currently sits in the House State Government Committee, which he chairs. It states, “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.”
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