Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 22:57:40 -0400 From: Maggie Heineman Subject: New PA Anti-Marriage Legislation Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition 201 South Camac Street Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-893-9458 Voice and Fax E-mail PHFtoMarry@aol.com Web Site: http:www.libertynet.org/~pftmc/ Dear Concerned Community Member: As I'm sure you know legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to bar recognition of same-sex marriages performed legally in other states in the form of HB2604. This bill has been assigned to the House Judiciary Committee, on which six of its cosponsor sit. This week also saw the introduction of near identical legislation in the Pennsylvania Senate as SB1558. These two bills, along with the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) complete the legislative assault on equal marriage rights in Pennsylvania. In an effort to solidify opposition to these bills from our area legislators, Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition member organization, Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club has undertaken what promises to be one of the most successful postcard drives in our community's history. Thanks to Mark Smith of Liberty City and Jim Pittman of PFTMC this drive, continuing through Philadelphia's Diversity of Pride Celebration on June 9, 1996 will certainly surpass all expectations. I am writing today in hopes that you too, if you have not already, will join Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, the Pennsylvania ACLU, the Interfaith Working Group of the Fight the Right Network, the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters, Men of All Colors Together, Metropolitan Community Church and all of our other member organizations and activists in taking a leadership role in this battle. Please take a few minutes to write to your State Senator and State Representative as well as your federal Representative and Senators. By far the most efficient way to influence your legislators is through a personal letter, (which can be sent to : Senate of Pennsylvania, Senate Post Office, Harrisburg PA 17120-2030 and PA House of Representatives, House Box 202020, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020 your time and energy will be well spent. Sincerely, Joe Perkinson Co-Chair Philadelphia Freedom to Marry Coalition In an effort to facilitate focused discussion with legislators the Human Rights Campaign has prepared the following talking points: Marriage, a Basic Human Right In Considering same-sex marriage, it's important to recognize the general, pervasive discrimination gay men and lesbians face in society. Not only can we not marry each other anywhere in this county, we can be fired from our jobs simply for being gay or lesbian. No federal law protects people on the basis of sexual orientation. However the vast majority of Americans think this kind of discrimination is wrong: 74 percent of voters oppose job discrimination against gay people. Nearly one-third of voters support same-sex marriage. However, 45 percent say they have not formed clear opinions on the issue. Keep this in mind, then as the debate about same-sex marriage percolates through communities across the country. Marriage is a basic human right and a matter of personal choice, which the government should not hinder. Adults should be free to choose the person with whom they want to spend their life. Everyone should have an equal opportunity *to share in the rights and responsibilities of marriage Denying people the basic human right of marriage can be extremely harmful to families. Rights that married couples take for granted are denied gay people - such as the ability to visit a spouse in the hospital. If your spouse were injured in an accident or critically ill, how would you feel if you were denied the right to visit him or her? But because gay people's committed relationships are not recognized by laws, hospitals and other institutions sometimes do this. 89 percent of voters polled by Human Rights Campaign said they believe hospital visitation rights are an important benefit of marriage. 70 percent believe that gay and lesbian couples should have this benefit. Likewise, if one partner in a marriage is seriously ill and incapacitated, the other spouse is allowed to make decisions regarding the care of their children. This basic right is denied to gay and lesbian couples with children because their partnerships are not recognized by law. 88 percent of Americans believe guardianship rights are an important benefit of marriage, 67 percent believe it is appropriate for gay couples to have this right. Less than thirty years ago, people of different races were denied the basic human right to marry one another. The same language used by opponents of same-sex marriages today was used to oppose interracial marriages. For years gay men and lesbians have been criticized for their supposed inability to establish and maintain long-term, committed relationships. Now the same people who helped perpetuate that stereotype would deny us the right - and responsibility - to form legally binding commitments to each other. An effective letter would present any one of these arguments (or an argument of your own) as a way for your legislator to vote against anti-marriage legislation. Try to keep your letter short and focused on just one or two of the many issues involved. Use the letter to tell about how this legislation would affect you personally. While ideally we might like to see legislation granting recognition of same-sex marriages, right now we must concentrate on eroding support for anti-marriage legislation rather than the process of broad education and social change that will inevitably result in equal marriage rights for all. If you're not sure of your State Senator or Representative please call the League of Gay and Lesbian Voters at 412-421-4470 or Pride of Philadelphia Election Committee at 215-625-9477.