Pennsylvania Equality Project Candlelight Vigil

from Pennyslvania Equality Project

In its first event ever , the Pennsylvania Equality Project held a small candlelight vigil across from the Federal Courthouse at 6th and State St. in Erie, PA on Sunday, April 26 at 7 PM. Although only 12 people braved the cold weather to attend this event, the vigil was the first of many related events throughout the United States. On Tuesday, April 28, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments stemming from various cases in the Sixth US Circuit Court of Appeals that upheld bans against marriage for same-sex couples. The purpose of the evening was to draw attention to the upcoming cases, and to press the issue that marriage for same-sex couples is not legal across the US. A decision from the US Supreme Court is expected by late June and could potentially allow for nationwide marriage equality.

Beyond the issue of marriage equality, David E. Moore, President and Founder of PEP, noted that ending legal discrimination through passage of PA House Bill 300 is core to the beliefs of the organization. Michael Kenton Mahler of the Erie Gay News and Northwest PA Pride Alliance had just been at the annual ACLU NW PA meeting with ACLU-PA Legal Director, Vic Walczak who seeemed confident that marriage equality will win the day at the US Supreme Court. However, the greater challenge, according to Mahler, is the matter of passage of the statewide non-discrimination law (PA HB300/SB300). The bill has been submitted to the PA House State Government Committee, which is chaired by Representative Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler). Last year, the chair refused to allow the bill to come for a vote, despite having over 90 bipartisan co-sponsors. PEP will continue to raise awareness about the bill, and will be present in Erie for the Day of Decision from the US Supreme Court, widely expected this June.