|
Constitutional Amendment Fight
Take Action! Ask Your State Representative to OPPOSE the Marriage Amendment
We need your help to stop legislators from passing legislation that would write discrimination into the Pennsylvania Constitution. The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed a Constitutional Amendment on June 6, 2006. The state Senate amended the legislation on June 21 and sent it back to the House for approval. We need you to contact your Representative and ask them to OPPOSE the so-called Marriage Protection Amendment.
| Sample Letter for Campaign |
Subject: Marriage Protection Amendment
Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,
As your constituent, I urge you to vote against House Bill 2381 or any Constitutional Amendment that would deny legal recognition of unmarried families.
I do not support the so-called "Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment" and ask you to oppose it.
Please help to protect all Pennsylvania families and not harm some by writing discrimination into Pennsylvania's Constitution, a document created to expand rights, not limit them.
Pennsylvania law already stops gay and lesbian couples from marrying. This amendment, therefore, is not necessary.
Please oppose any so-called Marriage Protection Amendment that prohibits civil unions or domestic partnership benefits.
In states where these types of Constitutional Amendments have passed, heterosexual families have been negatively impacted. In Ohio, courts have ruled that unmarried people, including unmarried heterosexual couples, may not be protected by domestic violence laws. In Michigan and other states, groups are challenging domestic partner benefits for employees. Virginia's recently enacted amendment is so broad that it may interfere with the rights of all Virginians to create wills, medical directives, powers of attorney, child custody and property arrangements, and even joint bank accounts.
So-called Marriage Protection Amendments affect all families, not just same-sex families. While supporters in Pennsylvania and other states have said these amendments are only about gay marriage, this is not true.
For the well-being of all Pennsylvanians please vote against writing discrimination into our Commonwealth's Constitution.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
|
Campaign Launched:
November 22, 2005
|
URGENT - Ask Your State Representative to Oppose the Marriage Amendment
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed the so-called "Marriage Protection Amendment" on June 6, 2006. The Senate amended the langauge on June 21 and sent the bill, HB 2381, back to the House for approval.
While the Pennsylvania Senate's version limits marriage to one man and one woman, it rejected the House language that would have prevented civil unions and potentially other types of relationships for unmarried couples.
The new version of the bill now goes back to the House for approval before it recesses for the summer. The House must approve the language by June 30 in order to be placed on the ballot as soon as 2007. If the House does not approve this version of the legislation, it cannot go to the voters until 2009 at the earliest.
Your voices are more important than ever! We have less than two weeks to stop this discriminatory legislation from passing.
Please call your State Representative today.
Ask your friends and family to contact their Representative.
Please forward this email to everyone you know.
This legislation will not only harm LGBT families in Pennsylvania, but all unmarried families. Your help is needed today!.
We need you to contact your state Representative and ask them to OPPOSE the Marriage Protection Amendment. Ask them to protect all Pennsylvania families and not harm some by writing discrimination into Pennsylvania's constitution. Pennsylvania law already stops gay and lesbian couples from marrying, and this amendment is not necessary.
Ask them to oppose so-called Marriage Protection Amendments that prohibit civil unions or domestic partnership benefits. While supporters in other states have said these types of amendments like the original House legislation are only about gay marriage, this is not true. In Ohio, courts have ruled that unmarried people, including unmarried heterosexual couples, may not seek protection from abuse orders. In Michigan, groups are challenging domestic partner benefits for employees. Virginia's recently enacted amendment is so broad that it may interfere with the rights of all Virginians to create wills, medical directives, powers of attorney, child custody and property arrangements, and even joint bank accounts.
Thank you for your support and please forward this email to friends, family, and other people in Pennsylvania who believe in civil rights and equality for all Pennsylvanians.
|
