Kudos to Comitta

Our State Senator, Carolyn Comitta, has introduced S.B. 434 – the Marriage Equality Act. The legislation would affirm marriage equality rights in state law.

The bill removes discriminatory language in Pennsylvania law and affirms marriage equality should both state and national court rulings legalizing same-sex marriage be overturned.

The Marriage Equality Act is in direct response to the possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will give its consideration to take up a case that asks, in plain words, to overturn the 10-year-old landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges that allowed recognition of same-sex marriages nationwide.

Comitta said, “This Supreme Court has proven that we cannot rely on the courts to fix the flaws in our laws, and we need to take legislative action that protects and defends our basic rights and freedoms. As we see new efforts to overturn marriage equality for same-sex couples through the court system, our legislation is needed now more than ever to protect marriage rights and demonstrate that Pennsylvania is a welcoming and caring home for all.”

Kudos to Comitta for this commence-sense legislation, and for recognizing the government’s role in ensuring equality for all Pennsylvanians.

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta has introduced a companion marriage equality bill in the State House. 

“Marriage equality is the law of the land, and Pennsylvania should clean up our statutes to match that,” Kenyatta said. “The current review of Obergfell v. Hodges makes it clear that the freedom to marry is under attack – this is something I’ve warned about, as have other advocates and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We passed this legislation in the House last session with bipartisan support, but the State Senate never considered it for a vote. We must continue this work to protect all marriages across Pennsylvania.” 

Love local

Southern Chester County is great year-round, but it is especially festive in the late summer and fall. There are several events coming up that will allow residents and visitors alike to “love local.”

Festivities connected to the 40th annual Mushroom Festival in Kennett Square will get underway on Thursday, Sept. 4 with a parade that will start at 6 p.m.

The Oxford Mainstreet Car Show returns on Friday, Sept. 5. This is the 11th year for this popular annual event, and there will be many classic automobiles, sports cars, trucks and motorcycles on display. Full details about the event can be found at oxfordmainstreet.com.

Then, the 40th annual Mushroom Festival will take place over two days, Sept. 6 and 7. There will be plenty of attractions, food, fun, and activities for people of all ages to enjoy during the biggest and best festival ever.

That’s a lot of fun packed into a few days. We encourage everyone to enjoy these activities and others, to support the small businesses and restaurants in the downtowns, and to always love local.