Talking Points on Marriage Amendment

• The Marriage Amendment states, "No union other than a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage or the functional equivalent of marriage by the Commonwealth."
• Same-sex couples are already denied the right to marry in Pennsylvania. This amendment is unnecessary, unwise and divisive.
• The proposed amendment could take away existing legal protection, under state law, for all unmarried committed long-term couples and their children, such as domestic abuse prosecutions, domestic partner benefits including health insurance, pension benefits, and custody and adoption, among others.
• This type of amendment will also harm the families of heterosexual unmarried couples who may not be able to get any of the benefits listed above if the proposed amendment becomes part of our state Constitution.
• With all of the problems that the Pennsylvania Senate should be addressing, it is disturbing that some of the members would spend time and resources to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to make a pronouncement about marriage.

Marriage Equality

• Marriage is a commitment. It is about creating a family. It is also about rights and responsibilities. Marriage is about sharing, love, trust and compromise. Two adults who make this personal decision to form a life-long commitment should not be denied the right to civil marriage, civil unions or domestic partnerships because they are gay or lesbian.
• Gay and lesbian Pennsylvanians are our neighbors, co-workers, and friends. They pay taxes and serve our communities. They raise children and volunteer with civic organizations. They simply desire the same rights, responsibilities and protections as all other Pennsylvanians.
• Denying gay and lesbian couples legal recognition will adversely impact their legal rights in pension, health insurance, hospital visitations, and inheritance that heterosexual couples enjoy.
• Today we look back with disbelief that there was a time in America when we did not allow marriage between Catholics and Protestants or between blacks and whites. Our laws continue to deny the right to marry to adults who are gay or lesbian. We should not support this kind of discrimination.
• People are not being asked to change their religious beliefs and nobody is trying to force any clergy person to perform same-sex weddings. There are many things about modern society that some religious organizations do not endorse. Yet, as a society we are governed by laws and not by religious beliefs.