HARRISBURG, March 25, 2010 – State Sen. Daylin Leach (D-Delaware/Montgomery) announced the success of last night’s marriage equality debate against Maggie Gallagher from the National Organization for Marriage, an organization that believes that traditional marriage will suffer if same sex couples are permitted to marry.
During the hour-and-a-half long debate, Leach battled the merits of same-sex marriage rights with Gallagher, a staunch opponent to marriage equality. Leach, who gained international attention when he introduced S.B. 935, which would offer full marriage rights to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania, expressed gratitude at the opportunity to debate the issue in front of a live audience and on television.
"Maggie and I had a great exchange, but I'm convinced that anyone who listened came away knowing that there is no compelling reason to deny same-sex couples their full civil rights,” Leach said. “We showed that same-sex marriage is undeniably good for gay Pennsylvanians, and does nothing to harm anyone else. I think this was one more important step on our state's journey to full equality."
More than 250 people attended the debate, held at Harrisburg Area Community College, including the groups HACC Allies and Silent Witness. PCN broadcasted the debate live and followed with an analysis and discussion of the debate after its conclusion. Scott Detrow, Capitol Reporter for WITF, served as the moderator and Trum Simmons, Sr. Professor of English, moderated the Q & A session that followed the debate.
The debate came on the heels of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s historic defeat of S.B. 707, a bill that would have amended the state Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman only. Leach, who led the fight against the bill, noted that it was struck down by a bipartisan vote of 8-6.
Leach said he plans to post video of the debate on his website for individuals to watch as soon as it becomes available.
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