In 2010, I introduced Pennsylvania's first civil unions bill, with a total of 32 co-sponsors, all Democrats. This year, on Valentine's Day, I introduced the same bill with a total of 42 co-sponsors, also all Democrats. Now we have a 43rd co-sponsor, Matt Bradford, who represents the Norristown Area. With his co-sponsorship, Montgomery County becomes the largest county in Pennsylvania to have all its Democratic House members co-sponsoring it. Other Montgomery County Co-sponsors include Democrats Tim Briggs, Lawrence Curry, Pam Delissio (who represents part of Lower Merion in a district that is primarily Roxborough and Manyunk), Mike Gerber, and Josh Shapiro, now a Democratic nominee for County Commissioner.

On Valentine's Day, February 14, 2011, I introduced a bill legalizing civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in Pennsylvania with 42 co-sponsors, up from 32 last year. These forty-two co-sponsors represent 21% of the House. Several of the co-sponsors of the civil unions bill joined me and Senator Daylin Leach--sponsor of a marriage equality bill--at a press conference in the Rotunda: Reps. Pam Delissio and Michael O'Brien of Philadelphia, Eugene DePasquale of York, and Dan Frankel of Pittsburgh. Senator Larry Farnese of Philadelphia, a co-sponsor of Senator Leach's bill, also spoke at the press conference.