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Pennsylvania marriage equality measure advances to Senate, passing House
House Bill 1800 passed 127-72 to redefine marriage as between two consenting adults and remove clauses voiding out-of-state same-sex marriages, now moving to the Senate.
On Wednesday, the Pennsylvania House passed House Bill 1800 in a 127-72 vote, redefining marriage in state law as a civil contract between two individuals rather than between a man and a woman.
Sponsor Representative Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat from Philadelphia, designed the legislation to align Pennsylvania statutes with the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
With 26 Republicans joining 101 Democrats, the vote showed bipartisan support, though 71 Republicans and Representative Frank Burns of Cambria County voted against the measure.
Governor Josh Shapiro endorsed the House's action, stating, "Here in Pennsylvania, we believe in your freedom to marry who you love," while the bill heads to the Republican-controlled Senate.
Supporters argue the measure insulates marriage rights against potential future federal court reversals, whereas opponents like Representative Josh Kail raised concerns about broader implications regarding public accommodation laws.