Here We go Again !

The Pennsylvania state senate is once again taking up a proposal to amend the Pennsylvania constitution to ban gay marriage.
A constitutional amendment legislation failed in the last legislative session but is being considered anew in the current session.
During a Senate committee hearing, Maggie Gallagher, President of the National Organization for Marriage, said an amendment to the state constitution would protect against a judge’s ruling that could strike down state law defining marriage as between a man and woman. “It’s not a fantasy that this could happen. It is happening – it’s happened in New Jersey, it’s happened in Connecticut”
Gallagher was speaking to Republican Senator Jane Earll of Erie, skeptical of the need for a constitutional amendment: “We are going to hold our constitution hostage to the wackiest judge in some other state. I just think that amending the constitution is a very drastic measure”
Earll called the push for a constitutional amendment ‘perplexing’.

I not only find it perplexing but discrimatory and would like to remind the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that our constitution needs no such amendment and that within the very first Article, sections 1 and 26 read as follows (bold emphasis is mine):

Inherent Rights of Mankind Section 1.
All men are born equally free and independent, and have certain inherent and indefeasible rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation, and of pursuing their own happiness.

No Discrimination by Commonwealth and Its Political Subdivisions Section 26.
Neither the Commonwealth nor any political subdivision thereof shall deny to any person the enjoyment of any civil right, nor discriminate against any person in the exercise of any civil right.

Meanwhile in my fair city of Philadelphia ----

Philadelphia is featuring its locals in a series of travel ads to be launched this week hoping to attract LGBT tourism. The "We Your People" campaign will target local newspapers in Chicago, Ft. Lauderdale, Pittsburgh and Columbus to be followed with national gay magazines and promotions by Southwest Airlines and The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation.

Pictured in the first ad is Matthew Izzo, owner of Matthew Izzo Boutiques. Other Philly locals to be featured are Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, owners of Lolita, Bindi, Grocery and Open House; Stephen Carlino and Dennis Fee, owners, Tavern on Camac; Charlie Potje, owner, Charlie Salon; Mark Segal, journalist/publisher/gay pioneer, Philadelphia Gay News; Tami Sortman, president, Philadelphia Gay Tourism; Anh Dang, president, Philadelphia GLBT Swim Club; RJ Thornburg and Warren Muller, owners, bahdeebahdu gallery; Michael Sparano and Rocco Giancaterino, owners, Salon Royale Court.