pennsylvania
April 20, 2007
PA Governor Nominates Gay Man for Judgeship
Governor Edward G. Rendell nominated Dan Anders to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to fill the vacancy created when Justice James J. Fitzgerald III was elevated to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.October 21, 2006
PA Legislator Introduces GLBT Rights Act
HARRISBURG—Rep. Dan Frankel (D) reintroduced legislation that would prohibit several forms of anti-gay discrimination, including employment, housing and credit. The bill, which is similar to the protection provided by the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, previously failed to win support...July 3, 2006
PA Marriage Amendment Fails
The Pennsylvania Legislature recessed for the summer without passing an amendment that would have prohibited same-sex marriage and, perhaps, civil unions and domestic partnerships.June 22, 2006
PA Senate Approves Marriage Ban
By a 38-12 vote, the Pennsylvania Senate approved a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would ban recognition of same-sex marriage.June 14, 2006
PA Proposed Marriage Ban Amended
A proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee with an amendment that removed a ban on civil unions and domestic partnerships in the state.January 26, 2006
PA State Senator Blasts Anti-Gay Amendment
Pennsylvania State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, said a state constitutional amendment being introduced today would harm same-sex families and unmarried opposite-sex couples, including many senior citizens. Sponsors of the amendment say it would prevent Pennsylvania judges from authorizing same-sex marriage.
January 24, 2006
PA House Introduces Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment
Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Boyd (R-Lancaster) and 88 co-sponsors reintroduced a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution limiting marriage to one man-one woman.
September 28, 2005
PA Court Upholds Co-parent Custody
The Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld the award of custody of twins to the lesbian ex-partner of the biological mother.
July 20, 2005
PA Republicans Sue to Stop DP Benefits
Two top Republican lawmakers are suing the panel that sets benefits for state workers in a bid to stop its members from meeting privately tomorrow to consider extending same sex benefits to the 84,000 commonwealth employees.
June 26, 2005
Penn State Adds DP Benefits
Penn State University is now formally offering health benefits to workers with same-sex partners, adding one of Pennsylvania's largest employers to the dozens of colleges and universities around the country offering such benefits.
June 14, 2005
Liberty PA Targets Santorum
The National Stonewall Democrats and a Pennsylvania political action group, Liberty PA, have formed a partnership to defeat Republican Senator Rick Santorum in 2006.
May 30, 2005
Lesbian Likely to Win Philadelphia Judge's Seat
Ann Butchart, a board member of the Liberty City Democratic Club, won the Democratic primary, almost assuring her election as Philadelphia's first openly gay judge.
May 2, 2005
Philadelphia Freedom Fest Honors GLBT Pioneers
A Methodist minister, an Episcopal bishop, a Canadian Primer Minister, and a gay pioneer who led one of the first protests were among those honored at Freedom Fest on Sunday.
April 29, 2005
Lesbian Minister to Be Reinstated
A Philadelphia Methodist minister, Elizabeth Stroud, defrocked last year for openly admitting to living with another woman has won her appeal against the church's decision, the United Methodist Church said on Friday.
April 23, 2005
There Is Hope for Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG — Democrat Robert P. Casey Jr. holds a 14-percentage-point lead over Republican Sen. Rick Santorum in the 2006 campaign for Santorum's seat, according to an independent poll released today.
March 29, 2005
PA Court Grants Visitation Rights to Lesbian Ex-partner
A woman should be able to visit her former partner's child, even though the birth mother does not want to her to do so, a Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled.
February 17, 2005
Charges Dropped Against Philadelphia Anti-Gay Demonstrators
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia judge Thursday dismissed charges against four evangelicals who disrupted Outfest last fall....February 8, 2005
PA GOP Attempts Gay Hate Crime Repeal
HARRISBURG — A bill has been introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature to remove several classifications including gays, lesbians, and the transgendered from the state's hate crimes law....February 8, 2005
Lesbian Visitation Dispute Back in PA Court
PHILADELPHIA — A lesbian mother who was denied visitation with her child after she broke up with the child's birth mother returned to court today in Philadelphia....December 7, 2004
Philadelphia Bar Assoc. Elects Gay Chair
Telling his colleagues that thriving cities are filled with striving newcomers, incoming Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Andrew A. Chirls today called for added opportunities for immigrants and minorities who strive to succeed and still see our great city as...December 7, 2004
PA Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Philly DP Benefits
The state Supreme Court ruled that Phila. did not overstep its power by giving 'life partners' rights. The city acted within its powers six years ago when it extended benefits to the same-sex life partners of its employees, the...October 20, 2004
PA Judge Dismisses Suit Against Gay Couple
DOYLESTOWN, PA — An attempt by a group of Pennsylvania legislators to intervene in a potential case involving same-sex marriage has been rejected by a judge....October 9, 2004
PA Judge to Rule in New Hope Anti-Marriage Suit
NEW HOPE, PA — A judge has indicated that he likely will rule against a dozen state lawmakers who tried to strengthen the state's ban on same-sex marriages by suing two gay men who want to marry....June 22, 2004
Pa. Gay Couple Fights Back
A lawyer representing a Pennsylvania gay couple wants a lawsuit thrown out that seeks to have a court declare state's Defense of Marriage Act legal and constitutional....May 26, 2004
Pa. Postpones Anti-Gay Marriage Vote
The state House of Representatives began Wednesday to wade into the national debate over gay marriage, considering a measure that supporters say would bolster a state law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman....May 16, 2004
Pa. Couple Sued Over Marriage Challenge
A gay couple who were turned down for a marriage license in Bucks County are now being sued by a group of conservative lawmakers....February 19, 2004
PA GOP Seeks Sweeping Gay Rights Ban
HARRISBURG—Legislation that gay advocates say would devastate same-sex families will be introduced in the Pennsylvania legislature when it reconvenes next month....
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