Coalition opposes same-sex marriage ban

Faith leaders from across Pennsylvania yesterday announced the formation of a broad-based coalition, including Quakers, Presbyterians, Reform Jews and American Baptists, to oppose gay-marriage bans under consideration in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C.

The state amendment was proposed by Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster, to strengthen the 10-year-old Defense of Marriage Act.

The amendment would remove the ability of a judge to find the state's marriage-definition law unconstitutional. That law defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

At a Capitol news conference yesterday, nearly two dozen faith leaders called on lawmakers to reject a proposal to ban same-sex marriage or the legal recognition of any relationship substantially equivalent to that of a marriage.

They argued that to adopt such a proposal would undercut the moral authority of religions.

The Rev. James Brown of Market Square Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg said he is flabbergasted at the thought of same-sex couples being viewed as outcasts in the state's eyes.

"I cannot believe this is what God intends," he said.

House Republicans said the bill is on the list of legislation to be voted on this month.

Rep. Babette Josephs, D-Philadelphia, said she hopes that doesn't occur.

"I really want this General Assembly and the governor to concentrate on the real problems that real Pennsylvanians have and to stop diverting our attention to picking on groups so that maybe folks will forget we have real problems that we have to really deal with," she said.