With Kentucky having proposed legislation to overturn a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage that only Kentucky Equality Federation has hailed (previous story), other states remain under attack from the National Organization for Marriage to overturn legalized same-sex marriage.

The gay and lesbian culture war continues across the United States, which some now refer to as the “Divided States of America.”

Pennsylvania Senator John Eichelberger (R – Bedford, Blair, Fulton, Huntingdon and Mifflin) has introduced Senate Bill 707 to add an amendment to Pennsylvania’s Constitution that reads: “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid and recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth.” (Senator Eichelberger’s Press Office)

Eichelberger, a freshman Senator, announced his intention to spearhead such an initiative last May.

Shortly thereafter, Pennsylvania Senator Daylin Leach (D – Delaware, and Montgomery) introduced legislation to legalize same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth.  Daylin is also a freshman in the Pennsylvania Senate, but served three terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Unlike Kentucky, to amend the constitution, both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly would have to pass the “Marriage Protection Amendment” in two consecutive sessions (in Pennsylvania, these are simple concurrent resolutions) before the question is posed to voters. Also unlike Kentucky, Pennsylvania’s lawmakers are full-time, and is the the largest legislative body in the nation.

Kentucky only requires a constitutional amendment to pass both houses once before going to voters. Kentucky easily passed a same-sex marriage ban in 2004 without much publicity or opposition.  Kentucky is also one of the few states with a part-time legislature, and the only state with a legislature that only meets for thirty day sessions in odd numbered years.

Information on Full-Time and Part-Time Lawmakers:
It seems like an easy question, but it isn’t.  50 sovereign states means having 50 constitutions, laws, ways of life, etc.  Being a legislator doesn’t just mean attending legislative sessions and voting on proposed laws. State legislators also spend large amounts of time assisting constituents, studying state issues during the interim and campaigning for election. These activities go on throughout the year.

State Legislatures hold the supreme authority of law, including whether or not the state will comply with federal laws, and if so, which ones.

Currently, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Wisconsin have full-time state legislatures.

The Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment Joint Resolution introduced Tuesday enjoys the support of 15 co-sponsors.

“Pennsylvania voters have the opportunity to decide how they want marriage to be defined and not allow an activist judge to make that decision for them,” Republican Senator John Eichelberger said in a prepared statement. “Thirty one other states have already gone through a similar process and in each state, the definition of marriage was upheld.” (Senator Eichelberger’s Press Office)

Political experts say passage in the Republican-controlled Senate appears to be a given, but the proposal might encounter turbulence from Democratic leaders in the House, who control the chamber.

The earliest voters could see the issue on the ballot is 2011.

Marriage Wars in Other States

Today, Hawaii lawmakers declined to vote on a bill that would have allowed same-sex civil unions, effectively killing the measure.

Last Wednesday, a stricter measure that seeks to ban gay marriage and civil unions won the endorsement of a key Senate committee in the state of Indiana.

(Copyright 2010 by United We Stand Media. All Rights Reserved. United We Stand – Kentucky’s LGBTI News)

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