The summer is traditionally the slowest news season for PGN. With legislative bodies on break, the political scene dies down for a bit, and with many locals flocking out of town for vacations, the local events scene also wanes. But, if the past few weeks are any indication, we should enjoy these slower days of summer while we can.
On the legislative front, the latter half of this year will likely bring us a new push on the proposed LGBT nondiscrimination bill in Pennsylvania. Equality Pennsylvania recently launched a six-week tour to garner support for the legislation from all corners of the state, and that fight will likely ramp back up in the legislature once the summer recess wraps up.
Marriage equality gains new momentum almost daily and, as marriage bans continue to fall state by state, the overarching issue of the inherent right of same-sex couples to marry could make it to the U.S. Supreme Court in the coming year.
Now that marriage equality is a must in Pennsylvania, the need for this legislation is further illuminated. Speaking of marriage equality, while the court ruling stands, the language of our laws needs some updating; to ensure that the letter of the law respects same-sex couples’ marriages, there needs to be a complete overhaul and update of legislation that extends in some way to marriage, such as is being advocated for by a local widow pressing for language changes to the inheritance-tax law.
Politically, this fall brings an important gubernatorial election. While Gov. Corbett did the right thing in not appealing the ruling that granted same-sex couples marriage rights, his dismal pro-equality record should factor into decisions at the polls — and could spell big changes for Pennsylvania’s leadership.
On the community level, there were two big initiatives announced in just the last week: a new comprehensive sports program and the potential for a new women-focused bar.
The William Way LGBT Community Center is launching a program to unite LGBT sports groups throughout the region in an effort to increase membership, facilitate organizational logistics and enhance a sense of sports community. The group will be taking off in the coming months and is expected to breathe new life into the city’s already-vibrant LGBT sports community.
The bar scene could have a new addition, in the form of a project from former Sisters manager Denise Cohen. She took to the ’Net last week to launch a fundraising initiative for a new women-focused space. After Sisters’ shuttering last summer, the city has, for the first time in decades, been without a dedicated space for LGBT women. While no firm plans have been announced, Cohen said she has secured a potential property and is now just looking for the financial backing.
So we at PGN plan to enjoy these final weeks of summer — and gear up for what is expected to be a momentous second half of 2014.