Although it would have been hard to believe just a few short years ago, Pennsylvania is among the states whose leaders, residents and businesses are playing active roles in making national marriage equality a reality.
Dozens of court filings were submitted last week that urge the U.S. Supreme Court to find in favor of the LGBT plaintiffs in the landmark marriage-equality case it will hear this spring. President Obama submitted a brief. Federal agencies submitted briefs. Human Rights Campaign delivered a “people’s brief” with signatures from more than 200,000 everyday Americans.
Locally, our state and city governments submitted supportive filings, as did our mayor. Mayors of 15 other jurisdictions also signed on — including a number who represent areas not traditionally thought of as bastions of liberalism: Mount Pocono, Carlisle, West Mifflin. And, the municipal brief included support from towns like Lancaster and Emsworth, a small borough in Western Pennsylvania (we had to Google, too). The business brief garnered support from a chemical-sales company located in Allentown. The conservative-leader brief included our former Republican governor, Tom Ridge.
From across the state and across industries, our state stepped up to the plate for marriage equality.
So what does this mean?
Marriage equality is quickly garnering mainstream support, and that trend doesn’t seem to be missing Pennsylvania. When leaders of small Pennsylvania towns are willing to voice their support on a national platform for the issue, that bodes well for growing acceptance among their constituents.
However, as rapidly as the marriage-equality movement is gaining steam, the reality is other issues are moving painstakingly slow in Pennsylvania. We still lack an LGBT nondiscrimination law, a hate-crimes law, a measure to ban conversion therapy for our youth. Our schools still are rife with anti-LGBT bullying. Trans people continue to face startling disparities, as do our seniors.
That some in Pennsylvania are finally seeing the light on marriage equality is great news. However, those same people and organizations should use their positions to make the case for full LGBT equality.
A nationwide marriage victory this summer will be a turning point for the LGBT-rights movement. But it will not be the stopping point.