Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

I am again introducing legislation to 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equality has been enshrined as a right by both our state and federal governments, and this section of state law no longer represents the modern definition and view of marriage. 
 
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. In December 2022, the Respect for Marriage Act was passed by Congress, defining marriage under federal law, as a legal union between two individuals that is valid in the U.S. state, territory, or possession in which it was entered. The act formally repealed the federal Defense of Marriage Act (1996), which had defined marriage as a legal union between one man and one woman and had permitted states to refuse to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.  Unfortunately, there are still many states, including our own Commonwealth, that retain outdated, unconstitutional, and unnecessary sections of law that prohibit marriage equality. 
 
As legislators, we are entrusted to retain laws that reflect and represent the will and values of our constituents. It is a disservice to all 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 state.