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Pa. Legislators Propose Sidestepping Colleague Who is Blocking Marriage Equality Bill

By Kim Glovas

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CBS) -- For the fifth time in as many years, a suburban Philadelphia state senator has  introduced legislation in Harrisburg that would legalize same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania.

But this year, he is hoping for some movement that would move the measure toward becoming law.

The marriage equality bill has been locked down in the State Government Committee of the state House for the past four years by Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler), a conservative legislator from western Pennsylvania.  Metcalfe is strongly opposed to the bill.

In an announcement today at Philadelphia City Hall, state senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery/Delaware) noted that Pennsylvania is the only state in the Northeast without marriage equality.

And Leach says his proposed measure would somehow have to bypass Metcalfe.

"If I were the speaker (of the Pennsylvania House), I would refer the bill to another committee," Leach said today.  "There is no law that requires this to be referred to the state government committee."

He was joined by state senators Larry Farnese and Mike Stack.

"One person can't hold up justice," said Stack.  "And Governor Corbett shouldn't accept that.  We won't accept that, and Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate should not accept it."

The bill would legalize same-sex marriage and ban LGBT discrimination by employers or landlords.

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