The following resolution was passed on 6/20/2009 by the Berks County Democratic Committee:

Whereas Senator Daylin Leach recently introduced legislation that would make Pennsylvania the 7th state to legalize marriage equality;

Whereas at the same time, 13 Pennsylvania State Senators, including 2 Democrats, have signed on to John Eichelberger's bill to ban marriage equality;

Whereas both bills, the bill for equality and the bill for discrimination, are seeking more co-sponsors,

We, the members of the Berks County Democratic Committee, urge our State Senators to do two things:

1)   Co-sponsor The Marriage Equality Bill (SB 935), and

2)   Say no to discrimination and bigotry by refusing to co-sponsor the bill to ban marriage equality.

We, urge our State Senators to co-sponsor Senate Bill 935, a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania. S.B. 935 would allow our state to join ranks with our neighbors in Maine, Vermont, Iowa, New Hampshire, Connecticut and Massachusetts by offering full and equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania.

S.B. 935 would not require religious institutions to perform any marriage ceremonies or recognize any marriages that they do not wish to sanction.  The legislation would dissolve all of the barriers to building families that gay and lesbian couples currently face, both at the state and federal level.
 
We also strongly urge our Senators to refuse to co-sponsor Senator Eichelberger's attempt to ban marriage equality and insert discrimination into the Pennsylvania Constitution.