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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 22, 2021 03:52 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Carolyn T. Comitta |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Marriage Equality |
| In the near future, we will be introducing companion legislation to Rep. Kenyatta's prohibition of same sex marriage. This legislation will bring our laws up to date by repealing Section 1704 (Marriage Between Persons of the Same Sex) of Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, which currently only recognizes marriage between a man and woman. Marriage equality has been enshrined as a right by both our state and federal governments, and this section of law no longer represents the modern definition and view of marriage. Marriage is a sacred and ancient institution that was only recently opened up to same-sex couples across the country. While numerous states had previously recognized the right of same-sex couples to marry, it was the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges on June 26, 2015, that made it clear that marriage, and all of its privileges and responsibilities, should be available to all. Unfortunately, there are still many states, including our own, that retain outdated, unconstitutional, and unnecessary sections of law that prohibit marriage equality. As legislators, it is our duty to make sure that we continue to retain laws that reflect the will of our constituents. It is a disservice to all of our fellow Pennsylvanians in loving, same-sex marriages to continue to allow this obsolete section of law to exist. Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation to protect and show continued compassion and support for marriage equality in our great state. |
Introduced as SB558