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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Babette Josephs |
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Josephs applauds Senate committee's decision not to consider discriminatory bill
HARRISBURG, March 16 – State Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Phila., is calling today's decision of a Senate committee to table a bill that would define marriage in the state constitution a win for all Pennsylvanians.
"This is such a tremendous victory for everyone, not just for LGBT folks," Josephs said. "It is so very counterproductive to legislate against an entire class of people and restrict legal rights for Commonwealth citizens."
Earlier today, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 8-6 to table S.B. 707, which would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
Josephs said her name was heard to have been mentioned during the meeting in the context that as chairwoman of the House State Government Committee, she would prevent the bill from coming up for a vote.
"My unyielding stance that discrimination has no place in our constitution is no secret. The State Government Committee already has a full plate with such issues as improving campaign finance law, removing barriers to voting, ensuring honest elections and ending discrimination in housing and employment; it would be a waste of the committee's valuable time to even consider something that would restrict the rights of Commonwealth citizens.
"But today's victory isn't just about whether the measure would be able to move forward in the legislative process. It's also due to the team of advocates in Harrisburg and the efforts of all the ordinary citizens who love justice and fairness and reject bias and bigotry," Josephs said.
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