Press Statements
May 19, 2009
Contact: Deborah Hamilton, dhamilton@pa4marriage.org, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096
MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL INTRODUCED BY SENATOR JOHN EICHELBERGER. APPLAUDED BY PA4MARRIAGE COALTION
Harrisburg, PA – May 19, 2009 – Pennsylvania for Marriage Coalition salutes Senator John Eichelberger's decision to introduce a marriage protection amendment in the Pennsylvania Senate today.
“With recent states like Iowa, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia redefining marriage either through judicial activism or legislative maneuvering, we believe it is time for the people of Pennsylvania to have the opportunity to vote to preserve marriage as the union of one man and one woman,” stated Deborah Hamilton, spokesperson for the PA4Marriage Coalition.
Last month, marriage was redefined by seven judges for the entire state of Iowa because of six couples who had sued the state and demanded marriage licenses in 2005. The majority of Iowans whole-heartedly supported the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act, which sought to protect marriage between one man and one woman, yet the court completely ignored what the people wanted and overturned the ban on same-sex marriage.
Like Pennsylvania, Iowa requires passage of an amendment in two successive sessions of the Legislature. Also like Pennsylvania, according to an April 6, 2009, article on IowaPolitics.com, most of Iowa’s legislators assured constituents that, “Iowa’s Defense of Marriage Act is solid and will pass any court challenge; therefore a constitutional amendment is unnecessary.”
Hamilton commented that, “Pennsylvania has a good marriage law just like Iowa had. But regardless of the assurances from the Iowa Legislature, their Defense of Marriage Act did not withstand an assault from a handful of judges. We are very pleased that Senator Eichelberger is calling on Pennsylvania’s Legislature to bolster and strengthen marriage through the only fair and democratic solution: Pass a state marriage amendment now.”
According to polling conducted last year for the PA4Marriage Coalition, 67% of Pennsylvanians support marriage between one man and one woman and would support a Constitutional marriage amendment in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania for Marriage is a coalition of concerned individuals and groups who are working together to advance a Marriage Protection Amendment. Thirty states in the nation have passed a Marriage Amendment to their state constitutions. Pennsylvania voters are hopeful that they will be able to vote on this issue in the near future, however, since the bill does have to pass through two sessions of the legislature before Pennsylvania citizens have the opportunity to cast their votes, citizens will not be voting on a Pennsylvania marriage amendment until 2011 at the earliest.
For more information, go to www.PA4Marriage.org or call 717-657-4990 ext. 106.