Issue Position: Marriage Protection Amendment

Issue Position

Representative Metcalfe is the prime sponsor of the Marriage Protection Amendment (House Bill 1349). This Constitutional amendment would allow the citizens of Pennsylvania to precisely define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. The decision to define marriage should be decided by the voters of Pennsylvania, not judges.

The Pennsylvania Marriage Protection Amendment is modeled after Florida's marriage protection amendment, which was approved by more than 60 percent of Florida voters in 2008. The amendment was also unanimously ruled Constitutional by the Florida Supreme Court, after being challenged by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

The Marriage Protection Amendment would add the following language to the Pennsylvania Constitution: "Marriage is the legal union of only one man and one woman as husband and wife and no other legal union that is treated as marriage or the substantial equivalent thereof shall be valid or recognized."

Notable Quotable

"The Marriage Protection Amendment is specifically written to empower Pennsylvania voters, and only Pennsylvania voters, with the authority to decide how marriage will be defined in the Keystone State," said Representative Metcalfe.

"Marriage is a sacred bond that can only be fulfilled by one man and one woman, as established by God," said Representative Metcalfe." Final passage of my legislation will allow state lawmakers to exercise their rightful responsibility and obligation to uphold the rule of law and the will of the people."

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