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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2008
CONTACT: Diane Gramley 1.814.271.9078 or 1.814.437.5355

Massachusetts to Allow Out-of-State Same-Sex Marriages—Further Evidence Pennsylvania Needs a Marriage Protection Amendment

(Harrisburg) – Massachusetts Democratic Governor Deval Patrick signed a bill today repealing a 1913 law that barred couples from marrying in Massachusetts if their union would not be valid in their own states. The repeal now makes it legal for homosexuals from outside Massachusetts to marry in that state. The American Family Association of Pennsylvania (AFA of PA) cites this as yet another example of why Pennsylvania needs a Marriage Protection Amendment.

“In the six weeks that so-called same-sex marriage has been legal in California, Pennsylvania homosexual couples have been going there to ‘marry.’ Now they will be making the shorter trip to Massachusetts,” predicted Diane Gramley, president of the AFA of PA.

This sets the groundwork for a challenge to Pennsylvania’s Defense of Marriage Act and is further evidence that state legislators must give the people of Pennsylvania the opportunity to vote on a Marriage Protection Amendment. The majority of voters want to define marriage as between one man and one woman and not leave it up to a judge to define marriage. As marriage is under increased attacks, this becomes an even more important issue to the voters. But . . . do the majority of legislators get it? Governor Rendell made in clear in July 2005 that he wants the courts to define marriage in Pennsylvania.

On June 11^th, nine homosexual-supporting organizations such as the ACLU and Lambda Legal issued a six-page memorandum warning that homosexual couples should not go back to their home state from California to challenge the marriage laws because it could lead to ‘bad court rulings’ which would set their efforts back by years. The groups want to be given more time to lay the groundwork for the legalization of same-sex marriage across the country.

Homosexuals continue to say their fight is a fight for civil rights, but they are wrong. Homosexuality is not an unchangeable characteristic such as skin color or race. Yet less than 2% of America’s population wants to change the historic definition of marriage and family to include same-sex couples.

Legislative bodies and Governors in California and Massachusetts have allowed for the legalization of same-sex marriage in their states.

“Will the legislative body in Pennsylvania have the courage to do the right thing and allow the people to vote on the definition of marriage?” questioned Gramley. Noting that Governor Rendell has no veto power over constitutional amendments.

“Today’s repeal of the 1913 law in Massachusetts places the spotlight once again on our State House and State Senate and their indecision within the past few months. There is no more important issue than protecting the foundation of society from redefinition,” Gramley concluded.

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