Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania
Seeking Equality for All Pennsylvanians Since 2011
Join us in Harrisburg, PA on June 22 at 10 AM for our statewide support rally!
STAND with us and SUPPORT Marriage Equality for ALL Pennsylvanians
ME4PA Hosts Rally in Harrisburg at the Capitol
June 22, 2013 from 10 AM until 2 PM
June 22, 2013 from 10 AM until 2 PM
Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania in conjunction with numerous groups from across Pennsylvania will converge on the Capitol Building (see map below for details) in Harrisburg. We will be gathering at 10 AM on Saturday, June 22 to show our support for a variety of on-going legislative actions taking place in the General Assembly. Among the bills proceeding through the Assembly are Pennsylvania House and Senate Bill 300 which will end discrimination against the LGBT community for all public accommodations. Also before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senate Bill 719 will grant marriage equality to the LGBT community and for all Pennsylvanians. Furthermore, we seek passage of the PASS Act which will provide additional protections for LGBT students in Pennsylvania's schools.
While we have several serious bills pending in the PA legislature, we are also mindful that at any time on or around June 22, the US Supreme Court is likely to rule on the landmark cases of Hollingsworth v. Perry, and United States v. Windsor, better known as the Prop 8 and Defense of Marriage Act cases respectively. These rulings will forever change the battle lines, and we sincerely hope strengthen our efforts in Harrisburg.
Working with our friends at the Philadelphia Summit, the Capital Stonewall Democrats, Keystone Progress-Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, and Equality PA, ME4PA wants to gather as many of our friends and allies to the capital to demonstrate to the legislature that we will not be moved, nor will we back down from our fight. We have the support of a number of legislators, including Representative Brian Sims, Senators Jim Ferlo, Daylin Leach, Sean Wiley, and Lawrence Farnese, and the rest of the LGBT Legislative Caucus.
Our tentative plan is to begin our rally at 10 AM with brief introductions, followed by speakers and chants through 12 noon. We will then take a moment of silence, followed by additional speakers. A complete schedule is still being compiled, and should be published to this page soon. The rally is being held on the grounds of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. See map for details.
We want to bring 1,000 or more fans and allies to Harrisburg for what we hope will be Pennsylvania's largest rally in support of marriage equality and an end to discrimination. I look forward to seeing you there.
In solidarity,
David
While we have several serious bills pending in the PA legislature, we are also mindful that at any time on or around June 22, the US Supreme Court is likely to rule on the landmark cases of Hollingsworth v. Perry, and United States v. Windsor, better known as the Prop 8 and Defense of Marriage Act cases respectively. These rulings will forever change the battle lines, and we sincerely hope strengthen our efforts in Harrisburg.
Working with our friends at the Philadelphia Summit, the Capital Stonewall Democrats, Keystone Progress-Marriage Equality for Pennsylvania, and Equality PA, ME4PA wants to gather as many of our friends and allies to the capital to demonstrate to the legislature that we will not be moved, nor will we back down from our fight. We have the support of a number of legislators, including Representative Brian Sims, Senators Jim Ferlo, Daylin Leach, Sean Wiley, and Lawrence Farnese, and the rest of the LGBT Legislative Caucus.
Our tentative plan is to begin our rally at 10 AM with brief introductions, followed by speakers and chants through 12 noon. We will then take a moment of silence, followed by additional speakers. A complete schedule is still being compiled, and should be published to this page soon. The rally is being held on the grounds of the Capitol Building in Harrisburg. See map for details.
We want to bring 1,000 or more fans and allies to Harrisburg for what we hope will be Pennsylvania's largest rally in support of marriage equality and an end to discrimination. I look forward to seeing you there.
In solidarity,
David
Pennsylvania Capitol Building, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Donate to ME4PA today!
Our co-founder, Joshua Szczesny has embarked on a funding project to convert ME4PA into a non-profit organization and pay for our filing fees with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. We are asking for donations, in increments of $5 to our cause. If you would like to help us, click on the button below. You will be taken to gofundme.com. Our goal is to raise $500 in 30 days. With your help, we can do it. Thanks much everyone.
From our friends at GLSEN
The Day of Silence may have ended, but the folks at GLSEN have devised a way to demonstrate just how LGBT-unfriendly Twitter is. Yes, many of us use Twitter every day; however, many younger people indiscriminately use the words "fag," "faggot," "dyke," and "lesbian" often and without any thought as to the power that language has. I don't want us to be the language police, but the number of children dying every day because they were bullied is staggeringly high. This counter is one reminder of how often these words are written with casual disregard for the LGBT community.
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In June, the United States Supreme Court will rule on two monumental cases that will impact our nation in a truly profound manner. Both the United States v. Windsor case and the Hollingsworth v. Perry decisions will be handed down, and in the process, the Court will make history. As I write this, the Court has not indicated the precise date on which their ruling will be made public. We do not want to allow momentum to get away from us at such an important time. Thus, I am calling on all our friends in Pennsylvania to stand with us in support of Marriage Equality. Between the dates of June 8 and June 11, 2013, we will be gathering in town squares, in front of various city and county buildings across Pennsylvania to demonstrate not only our pride, but our commitment to marriage equality.
Our events will remain, as they have always been, peaceful gatherings that tie together our LGBT friends, and our allies. We seek input from religious, and non-religious friends alike. We seek to build our community and make it stronger. We seek to draw from the strength of the groups who have gathered before. We seek to show our legislators in Harrisburg that our efforts are not in vain, and that we have statewide unity. From Erie to Philadelphia, and from Scranton to Washington PA, we will make abundantly clear that we want equality under the law, and we will continue to rise in support of marriage equality.
How can you help? Joshua Szczesny and I will be hosting a candlelight vigil in Erie, PA on June 9 from 7 - 8 PM. We promise that the weather will be far warmer than we had on March 26 when we gathered in front of the Federal Courthouse in Erie. Our friend and HLLY Chapter Leader, Katie Somers has agreed to hold a vigil in Harrisburg on June 10. Paula Johnston has indicated that she will hold a vigil in Fayette County (date and time TBD). You are welcome and encouraged to attend one of these events.
If an event is not close enough to you, please consider hosting one of your own. If your county does not yet have an ME4PA chapter leader, won't you please consider hosting an event. The process for setting up the event is pretty easy, and Josh and I will be more than happy to walk you through the steps to make your event a success and show Harrisburg that we are a grassroots effort that will not be swayed.
We delivered our petition. We continue to gather signatures. We await Day of Decision, and together with the folks at GetEqual and Marriage Equality USA, we will show our support for nationwide marriage equality. We still need folks to write to their local legislators in favor of House Bill 300 and Senate Bill 300 which will ban discrimination against the LGBT community in all public accommodations. We still need people to speak with their neighbors, and to assist us in making our organization a shining example of grassroots activism in Pennsylvania.
Thank you one and all for your ongoing support of our cause.
In Solidarity,
David
Our events will remain, as they have always been, peaceful gatherings that tie together our LGBT friends, and our allies. We seek input from religious, and non-religious friends alike. We seek to build our community and make it stronger. We seek to draw from the strength of the groups who have gathered before. We seek to show our legislators in Harrisburg that our efforts are not in vain, and that we have statewide unity. From Erie to Philadelphia, and from Scranton to Washington PA, we will make abundantly clear that we want equality under the law, and we will continue to rise in support of marriage equality.
How can you help? Joshua Szczesny and I will be hosting a candlelight vigil in Erie, PA on June 9 from 7 - 8 PM. We promise that the weather will be far warmer than we had on March 26 when we gathered in front of the Federal Courthouse in Erie. Our friend and HLLY Chapter Leader, Katie Somers has agreed to hold a vigil in Harrisburg on June 10. Paula Johnston has indicated that she will hold a vigil in Fayette County (date and time TBD). You are welcome and encouraged to attend one of these events.
If an event is not close enough to you, please consider hosting one of your own. If your county does not yet have an ME4PA chapter leader, won't you please consider hosting an event. The process for setting up the event is pretty easy, and Josh and I will be more than happy to walk you through the steps to make your event a success and show Harrisburg that we are a grassroots effort that will not be swayed.
We delivered our petition. We continue to gather signatures. We await Day of Decision, and together with the folks at GetEqual and Marriage Equality USA, we will show our support for nationwide marriage equality. We still need folks to write to their local legislators in favor of House Bill 300 and Senate Bill 300 which will ban discrimination against the LGBT community in all public accommodations. We still need people to speak with their neighbors, and to assist us in making our organization a shining example of grassroots activism in Pennsylvania.
Thank you one and all for your ongoing support of our cause.
In Solidarity,
David
We are the grassroots voice in Pennsylvania speaking out for civil rights for all people. We demand equal rights for the LGBTQ community, to be free from discrimination. We seek marriage equality and legal recognition of our lives and loves. All we ask in return is for your voice to raise with ours. Thanks much, David