Two Pennsylvania lawmakers said
Thursday that they are introducing a gay marriage bill in the House.
Democratic Reps. Brian Sims, one of two
openly gay legislators in the General Assembly, and Steve McCarter
spoke about their legislation, titled the Pennsylvania Marriage
Equality Act (HB 1686), at a press conference at Love Park in
Philadelphia's gay-friendly Center City neighborhood.
“The majority of Pennsylvanians now
support marriage equality, and that support continues to grow,”
Sims
said. “Neighboring states, including New York, Maryland and
Delaware, have all decided to be on the right side of history and
have granted equal rights to their LGBT citizens. The time has come
for Pennsylvania's Legislature to stand up and let our citizens know
we see them as truly equal members of society and they have the right
to choose whom they marry.”
The lawmakers said that 36 House
members have signed on as co-sponsors.
A companion bill was introduced in the
Senate in March by Senator Daylin Leach, a Democrat.
But with Republicans in control of both
houses and a Republican governor publicly opposed to marriage
equality, passage seems unlikely.