The state Senate this evening voted to table a bill that would have amended the state constitution to ban gay marriage.

The main sponsor, Sen. Michael Brubaker, R-Lancaster, said it had become clear to him that the bill would not pass in the House and he therefore saw no point to a lengthy debate in the Senate.

Up to 14 amendments were planned on the bill, which would have meant a long night.

One of the amendments was by Sen. Vincent Fumo, D-Philadelphia, who proposed that Pennsylvania outlaw most divorces. His amendment would “outlaw the dissolution of most marriages in Pennsylvania,” he said in a news release. That would mean there would be few legal ways for the divorce of a married couple, a man and a woman.
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Tourism is a multibillion-dollar business and fighting for a slice of the action means getting the word out about your city’s offerings.

Pittsburgh is trying to attract more gay and lesbian visitors, but that means battling a few misconceptions about the town.

The city wants to show the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community or GLBT, a group that accounts for 10 percent of the U.S. travel market, what the city has to offer.

“Statistics tell us there is a lot of money to be had, a lot of money to spend,” said Beverly Morrow-Jones of Visit Pittsburgh. “They like spending money and they like having a good time, and I think, just like everybody else, the gay and lesbian community wants to feel welcomed.”  read more »