Pennsylvania House Passes Bill to Codify Marriage Equality Into Law
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has passed a bill that would codify marriage equality into law. House Bill No. 1800 calls to change the definition of marriage in Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes from: “a civil contract by which one man and one woman take each other for husband and wife” to “a civil contract between two individuals.”
The legislation advanced with a vote of 127 yeas and 72 nays. Click here to view who voted for and against the bill.
Key Sponsors and Supporters
Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from Philadelphia, was the prime sponsor of the bill. Numerous other representatives co-sponsored the legislation, including Jessica Benham, Jamie Flick, Danilo Burgos, La’Tasha Mayes, Tim Brennan, Michael Schlossberg, Chris Pielli, Danielle Friel Otten, MaryLouise Isaacson, Ben Waxman, Arvind Venkat, Lisa Borowski, Perry Warren, Dave Madsen, Emily Kinkead, Jeanne McNeill, Elizabeth Fiedler, Carol Hill-Evans, Christina Sappey, Maureen Madden, Christopher Rabb, Tarah Probst, Kyle Donahue, Ismail Smith-Wade-El, Kristine Howard, Robert Freeman, and Benjamin Sanchez.
Statements on the Bill’s Passage
Representative Kenyatta released a statement following the vote, reflecting on the significance of the moment for himself and others in same-sex marriages. He emphasized that the bill is not merely symbolic, but a crucial step to ensure the legal security of these unions. “This is not a symbolic vote; there is not a thing symbolic about the connection I have and the right all Pennsylvanians deserve to not live in constant fear that their union is in imminent danger,” Kenyatta stated. He too passionately responded to objections based on religious beliefs, asserting, “My God did not make me to hate me.”
Governor Josh Shapiro also celebrated the bill’s passage.
Next Steps
The bill now moves to the Republican-led Senate for consideration. The outcome in the Senate remains uncertain.
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