Not watered down
Family Portrait: Greg Seaney-Ariano PAGE 25
Barney Frank talks about life post-Congress
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May 10-16, 2013
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Vol. 37 No. 19
Delaware becomes 11th marriageequality state
Nondiscrimination bills reintroduced amid new public support
By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com
By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com
Almost two years to the day after Delaware adopted a civil-union law, the First State again made LGBT history. On May 7, just moments after the Delaware Senate passed a marriage-equality bill in a 12-9 vote, Gov. Jack Markell signed the legislation into law, making Delaware the 11th state to legalize samesex marriage. The action came about a week after Rhode Island did the same. “Today, we wrote a new chapter in our history and proved, once again, justice and equality continue to move forward in Delaware,” Markell said in a statement. “In my State of the State earlier this year, I spoke about a Delaware that protects the rights of all of its citizens, no matter whom they love. By signing House Bill 75 into law, we are another step closer towards achieving that goal.” The law, which will take effect July 1, was first approved in the House in a 23-18 vote on April 22. PAGE 20
Legislation to ban LGBT discrimination statewide was reintroduced into the House and Senate this week, and backers are optimistic that the long-stalled effort could see some progress this session. I n a p r e s s c o n f e rence Tuesday morning in Harrisburg, a coalition of lawmakers, activists and corporate partners unveiled HB and SB 300, introduced that day with unprecedented support. The House version is being led by Reps. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.) and Chris Ross (R-158th Dist.), while the Senate bill is spearheaded by Sens. Larry Farnese (D-First Dist.) and Pat Browne (R-16th Dist.). This marks the first time that the legislation is being taken up by bipartisan coprime sponsors. It is also the first time both pieces of legislation will carry the same bill number.
The House version was introduced with 77 cospons o r s , i n c l u d i n g s eve n Republicans. The Senate bill has 25 cosponsors, including two Republicans. Last session, the House bill had 65 cosponsors, while Browne’s version of
FROM CUBA WITH LOVE: Mariela Castro, director of the Cuban National Center for Sex Education, wowed the crowd at Equality Forum’s SundayOUT! May 5 at the Piazza at Schmidt’s. Castro was in town to accept Equality Forum’s International Ally for LGBT Equality Award. During her stay, she toured Independence Hall and the gay pioneers’ historic marker, and participated in a panel discussion on LGBT rights in Cuba, Equality Forum’s featured nation. “She responded to all questions that were asked and made a hugely positive impression,” said Equality Forum executive director Malcolm Lazin. Photo: Scott A. Drake
Mayor signs landmark LGBT equality bill By Angela Thomas angela@epgn.com Philadelphia made history this week as Mayor Michael Nutter signed into law a landmark LGBT-rights bill. Among its provisions, Councilman Jim Kenney’s legislation will instate a tax credit to companies that launch domestic-partner benefits programs and that offer transgender-specific health-care coverage, both programs that are the first of their kind in the nation. The legislation also revamped the city’s health plan to prevent discrimination against transgender non-union city workers.
City buildings will also now be required to provide gender-neutral bathrooms, and all city forms will be gender-neutral. The city’s nondiscrimination ordinance will be amended to clarify that employment discrimination based on one’s gender presentation is illegal and to mandate that public accommodations must permit individuals to use a restroom in accordance with their gender identity. The legislation passed in a 14-3 victory April 25, and Nutter gave his final approval in a May 9 City Hall ceremony that was packed with LGBTs and allies. LGBT activist Kathy Padilla said she has PAGE 21 spent 10 years advocat-
the Senate measure had 13 cosponsors and Farnese’s had nine. Frankel said he anticipated the legislation could have a tough time in the House but Farnese was unequivocal about its chances in the PAGE 20 Senate:
CAPITOL EQUALITY: Equality Pennsylvania executive director Ted Martin (center) unveiled results of a new poll Tuesday in Harrisburg that shows more than 70 percent of Pennsylvanians support an LGBT nondiscrimination law. The poll numbers were released alongside the introduction of HB and SB 300, bipartisan bills that would add sexual orientation and gender identity as classes protected from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The bills have more than 100 cosponsors combined and have a record level of Republican support. Photo: Anne Wakabayashi
PA lawmaker seeks to ban marriage equality By Jen Colletta jen@epgn.com The same day that dozens of pro-LGBT lawmakers gathered in Harrisburg to unveil nondiscrimination legislation, a virulently antigay state legislator submitted his own bill to ban marriage equality in Pennsylvania. State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-12th Dist.) on Tuesday introduced a measure that would amend the state constitution to define marriage as between one man and one woman. Pennsylvania has a similar statute on the
books, but the constitutional amendment would add an extra barrier to legalizing marriage equality. Metcalfe’s measure has 27 cosponsors, down from the 35 he introduced it with in 2011 — and the lowest number it’s ever been introduced with. Rep. Dan Frankel (D-23rd Dist.), coprime sponsor of the LGBT nondiscrimination bill and co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, said the timing of the introduction of Metcalfe’s bill highlights the waning PAGE 16 support for such efforts.