Issues
List all Issues
Policy Archive: view by date
Policy Archive: view by issue
Policy Archive: view by type
Family Sub Issues
The Marriage Debate
Marriage in the 50 States
familyfacts.org
Map of the Family





   ISSUES  > Family and Marriage
 
Pennsylvania  
[printer-friendly]

State Information

Government Website: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/session.cfm?papowerNav=|

Outline of State Law
Current Status of Law Concerning Marriage and Date of Passage 1996 - State Law Passed 
State Law Prohibits/Voids Same Sex/Same Gender Marriage yes 
State Law Defines Marriage between a Man and a Woman yes 
State Law Denies Recognition of Same-Sex Marriages Solemnized in Other States yes 
State Law States that Same Sex Marriage is not Aligned with State Public Policy yes 
State Law Defines "Spouse" as Referring Only to a Person of the Opposite Sex Who is Married as Husband or Wife no 

Statutory Provision

Pennsylvania Stat.  Tit. 23, Chap. 17, § 1704. Marriage between persons of the same sex.

It is hereby declared to be the strong and longstanding public policy of this Commonwealth that marriage shall be between one man and one woman. A marriage between persons of the same sex which was entered into in another state or foreign jurisdiction, even if valid where entered into, shall be void in this Commonwealth.

Current Legislative Activity

  • On January 24, 2006, a group of 89 legislators led by State Rep. Scott Boyd introduced a bill [HBR 2381] to defining marriage in the state Constitution. The Pennsylvania House passed the Amendment for the first time on June 7, 2006. The Pennsylvania Senate passed the an amended version of the Amendment on June 21, 2006, removing the second line which outlaws civil unions. . It is highly probable that the two houses will not agree on the amendment this year, which means the earliest that the amendment could see the ballot is 2009.

    The text of the amended amendment is:
§ 29. Marriage. Only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this Commonwealth, and neither the commonwealth nor any of its political subdivisions shall create or recognize a legal status identical or substantially equivalent to that of marriage for unmarried individuals.

U.S. Senators
US Senators and their Comments on FMA

Bob Casey, Democrat
http://casey.senate.gov/
This senator was elected in 2006, therefore was not present for the federal DOMA in 1996 and for the Marriage Protection Amendments in 2004 and 2006.

Arlen Specter, Republican
http://specter.senate.gov/
This senator voted for the federal DOMA in 1996 and for the Marriage Protection Amendment in 2004. The senator voted against the FMA in 2006.

State Public Policy Organizations Working on Marriage Issues

Pennsylvania Family Council
Pennsylvania For Marriage



Click here to return to the Marriage in the 50 States main page.