Pennsylvania Tries To Hate Again

The Pennsylvania Senate is trying one more time to pass a constitutional amendment banning marriage equality.

Constitutional amendment legislation failed in the last legislative session but is being considered anew in the current session. During a Senate committee hearing, Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, said an amendment to the state constitution would protect against a judge’s ruling that could strike down state law defining marriage as between a man and woman.

“It’s not a fantasy that this could happen. It is happening – it’s happened in New Jersey, it’s happened in Connecticut." Gallagher was speaking to Republican Senator Jane Earll of Erie, skeptical of the need for a constitutional amendment:

“We are going to hold our constitution hostage to the wackiest judge in some other state. I just think that amending the constitution is a very drastic measure.” Earll called the push for a constitutional amendment ‘perplexing’.

Ironically, a couple of years ago Philadelphia launched a campaign to reach out to gay tourists.