GREENS SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY

GREEN PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA CALLS FOR
PASSAGE OF SB 935 TO SUPPORT MARRIAGE EQUALITY

• Green Party urges passage of SB 935 legalizing same-sex marriage
• Leaders outraged over Sen. Eichelberger’s comments that society  “allows” gays and lesbians to exist

Recently, the Green Party of Pennsylvania spoke out in support of Senate Bill 935,  which would make same-sex marriage legal in Pennsylvania.  The bill has been sponsored by Sen. Daylin Leach (D-17).

“Legalizing same-sex marriage is an important step toward achieving equality  for all Pennsylvanians,” said GPPA Chair Hillary Kane of Philadelphia.  “The Green Party has  always supported same-sex marriage.”

Earlier this summer, Sen. Leach debated State Senator John Eichelberger (R-30) on WHYY’s Radio Times.  During the interview, Eichelberger implied that society goes far enough when it “allows” gay people to exist.  In  Eichelberger’s view, any broader guarantee of rights for gays and lesbians would constitute “special treatment.”  Eichelberger is sponsoring a bill to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution so that it specifically bans marriage equality.

“If gays and lesbians had not been singled out for the ‘special treatments’ of discrimination and violent attacks in the past, they wouldn’t need this kind of legislation now.  But they have, and they do,” said Skip Mendler of Honesdale,  Chair of the Wayne County Green Party.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office lists 1,138 federal laws that
pertain to married couples.  The rights and responsibilities outlined in
those laws currently do not apply to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania,
effectively denying these rights on the basis on sexual orientation.  These rights include:

• Ability to obtain Social Security survivor benefits
• Ability to provide citizenship to a spouse through marriage
• Ability to have one’s marriage recognized equally in all 50 states

It’s not just the Green Party whose members are speaking out.  “Senator Leach is attempting tos provide a solution to Pennsylvania’s intrusive laws that interfere with our  individual rights, and I applaud him for recognizing the importance of these  issues,” said Marakay Rogers, 2008 Attorney General candidate for the PA Libertarian Party and Pennsylvania coordinator of Outright  Libertarians.

The Green Party of Pennsylvania calls on all individuals who are concerned  about achieving full human rights for all Pennsylvanians to contact their  State Senator and urge them to support SB 935 to support marriage equality  in Pennsylvania.

Go to www.gpofpa.org to find your state senator’s contact information. Just put your zip code into the “Find State Lawmakers” box on the right-hand  side.  A new window will open with the results (scroll to the middle of the  page).  Tell your state senator to support SB 935 to achieve marriage  equality in Pennsylvania.

SEE ALSO
Lavender Greens Caucus:
http://www.lavendergreens.us/

Green Party Platform Statement on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity:
http://www.gp.org/platform/2004/socjustice.html#999082

October 11 – National March for Marriage Equality
http://nationalequalitymarch.com/

U.S. Government Accountability Office report listing the many laws that discriminate based on marital status
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04353r.pdf

The Green Party of Pennsylvania (http://www.gpofpa.org ) is an independent  political party founded on four pillars: grassroots democracy, social justice, ecological wisdom and nonviolence.

 

2009 WCGPC Annual Meeting – March 22, 2 PM

3/22 UPDATE: It’ll be a little too chilly for a picnic today, so please join us at Beverly’s house, 984 Bethany Turnpike.
——-

The Wayne County Green Party Committee Annual Meeting, which was postponed in January, will take place on Sunday, March 22 at 2 PM.

In case of beautiful weather, the meeting will be in Honesdale’s Central Park.

In case of inclement weather (rain, or temps under 60), the meeting will be at the home of Beverly Beers, at 984 Bethany Turnpike (Rte. 670, north of Bethany).

All registered Green Party members in Wayne County are urged to attend, and visitors are welcome. Refreshments will be served; please bring stuff (food/drink/music) to share, along with donations of unperishable items for our local Food Pantry.

The agenda will include the election of officers and revision of the county Platform, along with discussion of local issues.

For further information, call 570-251-3637.

 

PABAC video on YouTube

Here’s a video just posted to YouTube by the folks at the PA Ballot Access Coalition (PABAC)

Sen. Lisa Baker has just announced her support for the bill; she’ll be listed as a co-sponsor. (Thanks, Sen. Baker!)

For more info see the PABAC website …

 

Support Democracy – Support the Voters’ Choice Act!

What could possibly bring together such diverse groups as Libertarians, Greens, and Independents, along with members of the Constitution, Reform, and other smaller parties?

Simple: they all want (and deserve) the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way to the political life of this Commonwealth, and they are all hampered in doing so by Pennsylvania’s antiquated and anti-democratic ballot access rules.

These rules enforce a great injustice that currently exists. Democratic and Republican candidates need only a couple of thousand signatures to qualify for the ballot, while independents or candidates of other parties must gather anywhere from 25,000-70,000 signatures statewide!

Fortunately, legislation has been introduced to rectify this situation. The “Voters’ Choice Act,” introduced by Sen. Mike Follmer, would change the definition of a party so that party status could be based on voter registration, and make the signature threshold for candidates much more consistent and fair. Improved ballot access would mean more choices for PA citizens – and that means a better, more robust, and more responsive democracy. This legislation would also eliminate the need for costly signature-challenge lawsuits that waste government employees’ time and taxpayers’ money.

Please contact your local State Senator’s office, and ask your Senator to co-sponsor the Voters’ Choice Act. For more information, visit the PA Ballot Access Coalition website at www.paballotaccess.org.

 

WGCPC Platform – to be revised

It’s time to revise our platform, and we’d like your input. Just download the document, look it over, and let us know what you like or don’t like about it by clicking the “Comments” link.

 

McKinney Wins GPPA Caucuses

GREEN PARTY OF PENNSYLVANIA
PRESS RELEASE

Attention: News Editor
For Immediate Release

For More Information Contact:
Hillary Aisenstein, GPPA Chair, 267-971-3559
Blyden Potts, GPPA Secretary, 717-377-9638
Skip Mendler, Wayne County (PA) GP Committee Chair, 570-251-3637

PA GREEN PARTY CHOOSES MCKINNEY
Former Congresswoman gets Presidential nod

CARLISLE — On Sunday, May 18, Green Party of Pennsylvania delegates confirmed former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as the winner of their party’s Presidential caucuses. McKinney, who served six terms as a Democratic Representative from Georgia, changed her registration to the Green Party when she moved from Georgia to California last year, and soon after threw her hat in the ring for the party’s nomination for President.

As a Congresswoman, McKinney made a name for herself by vigorously challenging the Bush Administration, and consistently opposed funding for bloated military and secret
intelligence budgets. She also made headlines when she introduced Articles of Impeachment for George Bush, Dick Cheney, and Condoleezza Rice for their illegal handling of the events leading up to the invasion of Iraq.

“Cynthia McKinney is the embodiment of Green values,” said Pennsylvania party chairwoman Hillary Aisenstein. “Cynthia McKinney represents real change for American voters and you can tell it by looking at her record in Congress.”

Pennsylvania’ s Green Party will send up to 32 delegates to the party’s National Nominating Convention, which will take place in Chicago July 10-13. Green Party county chapters across Pennsylvania held caucuses between April 20 and May 10 to determine how those delegates would be proportionally allocated McKinney received 53% of caucus first-place votes for a total of 17 delegates. The “No candidate” option received 5 delegates; consumer advocate and former Green Party nominee Ralph Nader received 4; Jesse Johnson received 3; and Kent Mesplay and Kat Swift each received one. One delegate will be uncommitted.

The Green Party of Pennsylvania is an independent political party that stands in opposition to the two corporate parties. The Green Party of Pennsylvania believes in grassroots democracy, sustainable economics, nonviolence, and ecology. The Green Party of Pennsylvania opposes the War in Iraq and calls for immediate troop withdrawal.

# # #

for more information:

Cynthia McKinney for President
http://www.runcynth iarun.org

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp. org

National Nominating Convention
http://www.greenpar ty2008.org

Media Credentialing for National Nomination Convention
http://www.gp. org/press/ pr-national. php?ID=60

Green Party of Pennsylvania
http://www.gpofpa. org

Wayne County (PA) Green Party Committee
http://www,greenway ne.org

 

CAUCUS – Sunday, May 4, 3 PM – Honesdale’s Central Park

WAYNE COUNTY GREENS TO HOLD PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS MAY 4

(HONESDALE) — As part of the Presidential nominating process of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS), the Wayne County Green Party Committee (WCGPC) invites all duly registered Green Party members in Wayne and Pike Counties to attend the 2008 Presidential Caucus. Attendees should meet in Honesdale’s Central Park at 3 PM on Sunday, May 4.  (In case of inclement weather, check the WCGPC website, www.greenwayne.org, or call 570-251-3637 for alternate meeting information. ) Guests are welcome.  Participants should bring food to share, blankets or chairs, and musical instruments, as the Caucus will also be a Spring Picnic and Celebration.

At the caucus, registered Green voters will discuss the Presidential candidates and then indicate their Green Party Presidential nominee preferences in rank order. The Green Party of Pennsylvania (GPPA) will use the results to determine how GPPA delegates should vote at the GPUS nominating convention, to be held in Chicago this July 10-13.

Each attendee will also be asked to decide whether the GPPA should support the GPUS candidate, or forego the GPUS nomination process and instead support the winner of the GPPA caucus.

There are four candidates actively seeking the Green Party nomination:

• Jesse Johnson (www.jesse08. org) is a geologist and performing artist from West Virginia
• Cynthia McKinney (www.runcynthiarun. org) is a former Democratic Congresswoman from Georgia
• Kent Mesplay (www.mesplay. org) is a teacher and air quality inspector from California
• Kat Swift (www.bexargreens. org/katforprez) is a political activist from Seattle

Ralph Nader (www.votenader. org) is not seeking the Green Party nomination is 2008, although many Greens support his candidacy. Caucus attendees have other alternatives as well. They may choose ‘No Candidate’ to support the idea that GPUS (or GPPA) ought not to run any Presidential candidate at all, or choose ‘Uncommitted’ to give the GPPA delegation to the GPUS Convention the freedom to follow their consciences.

 Please join us!

 

Welcome to the new Wayne County Green Party Committee website!

We’re happy to launch our new website.  If you have any suggestions or comments, please contact us!