The Pennsylvania Legislature is looking to amend and strengthen
the state’s constitutional ban on gay marriage.

The legislation – House Bill 2381 – defines marriage as a union
between a man and woman and follows in step with similar laws being
passed across the country. Locally, state Sen. Joe Scarnati,
R-Brockway, and state Reps. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Kathy
Rapp, R-Warren, are supporting the legislation. State Rep. Dan
Surra, D-Kersey, was not immediately available for comment.

Lawmakers – who cite the legislation as a preventive measure
against activist judges from overturning the state’s statutes on
marriage – believe the bill will pass both chambers at the capitol
and eventually be placed on the ballot for the public to vote on,
likely sometime in 2007 or 2008. A measure last year to toughen the
state’s view of marriage was tabled in the House of
Representatives.

“Without question, marriage has been and should always be a
sacred bond between one man and one woman,” Scarnati, the deputy
majority whip, said Wednesday. “Pennsylvania is a conservative
state by nature. The fear is that, not only in Pennsylvania but in
others states, the courts can easily overturn these statutes.

“The issue has rose to the utmost importance as to look at
changes to the state’s constitution. We are not taking this on
without putting a lot of thought into it.”

The last amendment to the constitution was put before voters in
2001, and dealt with legislative reapportionment.

According to the Pennsylvania Family Institute, there are 43
states who currently have laws barring same-sex marriage. A “Stand
Up for Marriage in Pennsylvania” rally was held in the capitol
rotunda Tuesday, when the Pennsylvania Marriage Protection
Amendment was officially introduced by supporters from both the
Senate and House.

“I strongly support the legislation,” Causer said. “It is very
much needed. This is certainly not a new issue, but one that has
been ongoing across the country,” Causer said. “It was only a
matter of time before it was introduced in Pennsylvania.”

Rapp said the legislation “Sends a message to the state’s courts
concerning what the majority of the citizens believe is a rightful
marriage in our state.”

Officials said the bill must be passed in two consecutive
sessions of the Legislature before the process begins on placing it
on the ballot for voter approval. Scarnati said the Senate and
House could pass the legislation this year and pass it again as
early as next January. This year’s legislative session officially
ends Nov. 30.

“Coming from a conservative area such as mine, this is something
that has resonated with the Legislature and voters,” Scarnati said.
“Certainly, I think a challenge in the courts is always a
possibility, and there are some folks out there that would like to
raise that possibility even higher.

“Pennsylvania has long stood for the bond of marriage as being
sacred,” Scarnati added. “While it doesn’t preclude anybody else’s
lifestyle, we will not recognize that. The benefits extended to the
marriage of a man and woman won’t be extended to others in this
amendment, whether it be in filing taxes or in programs provided by
the state.”

One such group, the Center for Lesbian and Gay Civil Rights in
Philadelphia, opposes what the Legislature is doing, calling the
bill an anti-family amendment, which will hurt families and
children statewide.

“Nobody should be fooled by supporters of the proposed amendment
who say they just want to protect marriage,” Stacey Sobel,
executive director of the center, said on its Web site. “The
reality is this is an anti-family amendment. This is what would be
accomplished by those who want to write discrimination into our
state constitution.”

Thus far, nearly 90 legislators are sponsors of the bill, of
which similar legislation has been challenged in Massachusetts and
Maryland. In November 2003, a ruling by the Supreme Court in
Massachusetts allowed for same-sex couples to be married.

In response, Rapp said she has “Absolutely no malice personally
against people who choose to live that type of lifestyle. William
Penn started our state as a holy experiment and he and the founders
of our country believed marriage was between a man and woman. That
is my belief.”

Scarnati said the legislation is pro-family. “This is
family-sustaining legislation. When you look at our communities,
there is nothing more under attack then our families.”

When asked if the legislation is being brought forth now, in
part, due to it being an election year, all three said that had
nothing to do with the timing.

“It’s common for us to work on many issues at any one time,”
Causer said. “I can see where some could say it’s discrimination.
But I don’t think it is. I don’t believe in civil unions or life
partners. This is the right thing to do.”

Causer, Rapp and Surra are all up for re-election this year.