PA Senate Approves Marriage Ban

June 22, 2006

HARRISBURG—By a 38-12 vote, the Pennsylvania Senate approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban recognition of same-sex marriage. The Senate bill must now be reconciled with the House version, which included a ban on civil unions and other same-sex unions.

Last week, the Senate approved an amendment that struck the language that would have prohibited marriage alternatives, such as domestic partnership or civil unions. Because of this amendment, passage in the current session is not assured.

Under Pennsylvania law, the Constitution can only be amended if the exact same bill is passed in two consecutive legislative sessions and is subsequently approved by the voters on a referendum. The current legislative session ends on August 7 and the legislature goes on vacation next week. If the House does not approve the bill as amended by the Senate prior to the end of this session, then passage of the amendment will be delayed until at least 2008.

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