Beginning the Marriage Equality Discussion in Pennsylvania

As its neighbor to the north, New York, hopefully prepares to weigh in on the issue of marriage equality in the next few weeks, Pennsylvania is also seeing the beginning of a conversation about the rights of same-sex couples to marry.   In addition to LGBT organizations, publications and blogs on the ground leading the charge, one state politician is introducing marriage equality legislation in the Keystone State which, while he doesn't expect it to necessarily pass this time, he sees as an important first step.

State Sen. Daylin Leach has put forward marriage equality legislation that he says is a response to addressing the inequities and injustices that gay and lesbian Pennsylvanians face because their relationships cannot be honored by the state.

Sen. Leach wrote an op-ed this weekend on PennLive.com, where he said some powerful stuff about his push for marriage equality.  And he struck back at opponents of same-sex marriage with some choice words.  Check it out:

We also hear the frankly strange argument that if we legalize gay marriage we will somehow have no choice but to legalize polygamy, incest and inter-species marriage. Not so. We draw reasonable lines all the time in all areas of the law. You can drive 65, but not 95. You can keep a gun, but not a truck bomb. Similarly, you can marry one partner, but not an aardvark.

Any law involves line drawing. It seems reasonable that the line should be drawn where it allows each person the opportunity to have a life partner.

James Carville once said that Pennsylvania is Pittsburgh and Philadelphia with Alabama in between. As a native Pennsylvanian from the part that Carville thought was Alabama, I know that there are plenty of marriage equality supporters in places where you might not expect in the state.  But Sen. Leach still will have an uphill climb in passing this bill this year.

However, Leach isn't letting that be a downer.

I am under no illusions that this bill will become law in the short term. However, I also have no doubt that 15 years from now same-sex marriage will be legal in all 50 states, and people will be as ashamed that we ever banned it as they are now that we ever banned inter-racial marriage. My hope is that by introducing this bill now, we will start the discussion we need to have and bring the day of equality a little closer.

There's power in Sen. Leach's statement, especially for the states that are sitting on the sidelines right now watching as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, Maine, and now New Hampshire recognize marriage equality.  The work that's being done in states like Pennsylvania, even if it doesn't lead to marriage equality this year, still matters to the nationwide struggle for marriage equality and equal rights.  2009 may be the year of marriage equality when the history books are written.  The goal will be to keep it coming for the years to come, too.