Faithful Citizenship in Pa's 1st Congressional District and the Central Garden State

With regard to to anyone who has "deep-seated homosexual tendencies," the Church absolutely reminds us that "They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2358).

The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith also reminds us that "In assessing proposed legislation, the Bishops should keep as their uppermost concern the responsibility to defend and promote family life" (Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons, 1986).   On a federal level, the USCCB has already expressed concern that "ENDA [i.e., S. 815, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2013], if enacted, could be used to punish as discrimination what the Catholic Church teaches....The bill’s treatment of 'gender identity' ...would have an adverse effect on privacy and associational rights of others" (letter to the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions from Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, Archbishop William E. Lori, and Archbishop Salvatore J. Cordileone).

In Harrisburg, HB 300 and SB 300 speak of "freedom from discrimination in...public accommodation," regardless of "'gender identity or expression.'" As per the Human Rights Campaign, "gender identity" refers to how a person views her or himself, regardless of whether the perception corresponds with anatomy. 

On the pages of the 8/21/13 Philadelphia Inquirer, Brandon McGinley of the Pa Family Institute noted that "in states and cities with similar ordinances the reach of the law always stretches to bathrooms, locker rooms, dorm rooms and any other public facility traditionally segregated by gender." If fully aware of HB 300 / SB 300, would Pennsylvanians agree that limiting ladies' rooms to anatomical females is unjust discrimination?

Rep John Galloway was an original co-sponsor of HB 300. Comments accompanying two 9/30/13 articles belittle Galloway, but neither article/comments denies that HB300/SB300 would indeed remove the right to limiting ladies' rooms to anatomical females:

•  "State Representative John Galloway (D-Bucks) said concerns about accommodations for transgendered people are why he withdrew his name from HB 300, a measure to expand and protect LGBT rights" (Galloway Pulls Cosponsorship From LGBT Bill, PoliticsPa, 9/30/13).
• " Levana Layendecker, the chief spokesperson for Equality Pennsylvania, a statewide LGBT advocacy group, told LGBTQ Nation on Monday that she believed Galloway and other House lawmakers have come under increasing pressure from conservative religious groups to withdraw their support over the 'bathroom' issue (Pa. lawmaker yanks support for LGBT protections over ‘bathroom issue’, LGBTQ Nation, 9/30/13)

From Bucks County, the following are co-sponsors of HB300/SB300:
~Cardinal Dougherty/LaSalle University alumnus Tina Davis

~OLMC parishioner Chuck McIlhinney,
~ Bishop Conwell/St Joseph's University alumnus Marguerite Quinn,
~ Holy Family alumnus Steve Santarsiero, and
~ Villanova alumnus Scott Petri.