PENNA. HOUSE DELAYS VOTE ON SSM: From the

After nearly two hours of emotional debate on legislation to prohibit same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania, state House members decided they weren't ready to take a stand on the hot topic, and put off a vote until after the Nov. 2 election.

Conservatives argued strongly for the bill, saying, "Marriage is a God-given institution between one man and one woman and is the foundation of the family," while moderates lambasted it, saying it would make gay people second-class citizens.

Finally state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Carrick, moved to postpone further debate until Nov. 8. That would be after the November election in which many legislators will seek another term. His motion was narrowly approved 96-94.

"I think they were afraid of it," said Rep. Jerry Birmelin, R-Wayne, who sponsored the legislation that said "no marriage license shall be issued to two individuals of the same sex." It also said any marriage "between individuals of the same sex which was entered into in another state or foreign jurisdiction ... shall be void in this commonwealth." ...

Critics said one little-known provision of the bill would have banned "spousal equivalent relationships," such as civil unions or domestic partnerships sanctioned in other states.

They said it could conceivably affect some heterosexual as well as homosexual couples, especially senior citizens -- for example, elderly widows and widowers who live together without getting married so as not to disturb their finances, wills or health benefits from their first marriages. ...

Rep. Steven Nickol, R-York, said he was concerned about the bill's ban on spousal equivalent relationships, which were defined as a "civil union, domestic partnership or life partnership between two individuals of the same sex or different sexes, which the individuals may believe is similar to marriage."

He noted that many younger couples and even some senior citizens -- of the same sex or different sexes -- often live together, either for convenience, safety, companionship or just because they don't feel like going through a formal civil or religious ceremony.

He said he feared "protracted and expensive litigation" if the Legislature started telling either gay or straight couples, for example, whom they could leave their possessions to after they died.

Rep. Kathy Manderino, D-Philadelphia, said Birmelin's proposal could make it difficult for a surviving partner to get insurance payments or other benefits if his or her partner were killed on the job.

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posted by Eve at 10:26 PM | link

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