Reynolds: I Won't Preside at Weddings Until All Can Marry

Democratic mayoral candidate J. William Reynolds on Thursday promised to be an advocate for marriage equality for gays and lesbians, pledging that, if elected, he will not officiate at any weddings unless he is allowed to officiate at all weddings.

Same sex couples are not permitted to wed in Pennsylvania. Nine states and the District of Columbia will issue marriage certificates to gay and lesbian couples.

"One of the ceremonial functions mayors have is to officiate weddings if they choose," Reynolds said at a news conference at Payrow Plaza early Thursday evening. "Well I am here today to promise and to pledge to you that as mayor, I will not officiate or preside [at] any marriage in the city of Bethlehem until I am able to officiate all marriages in the city of Bethlehem.

“There is not a right time or a good time for to stand up for what is right because we should be standing up all the time.”

Reynolds was introduced by Adrian Shanker, president of Equality Pennsylvania, who announced that his organization has endorsed Reynolds to be the next mayor of Bethlehem.

No elected mayor in the state of Pennsylvania has taken a similar pledge, Shanker said.

“We are very excited to be endorsing someone who not only supports equality, not only is somebody who votes with us when we need him to, but also leads,” Shanker said.

“And that’s the big difference in this race. We have one candidate who votes the right way and another candidate who is a leader. Willie’s a leader.”

Reynolds is opposed in the Democratic mayoral primary race by fellow City Councilman Bob Donchez, who is serving his fifth term. No Republicans are running.

Shanker said Reynolds was one of only two council members who, from the very beginning, supported a Human Relations Ordinance that prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodation in Bethlehem and provides for a Human Relations Commission to enforce the law.

Council adopted the law unanimously in 2011, but that would not have happened without Reynolds, Shanker said. The other initial supporter was Councilwoman Karen Dolan, who Equality Pennsylvania has also endorsed in her re-election campaign.

Asked for a response, Donchez campaign spokeswoman Sally Handlon issued the following statement:

“Bob Donchez is against any form of discrimination or prejudice. He supported the establishment of the Human Relations Commission, which was passed by City Council about 18 months ago.”

Reynolds also said he would support providing domestic partner benefits to all city employees, something that is already done in the cities of Allentown and Easton and by the Bethlehem Area School District.

He also promised to sign the Mayors for Marriage Equality Pledge on his first day in office. Mayor John Callahan is currently a member of this organization.

“This isn’t about being a Democrat or being a Republican or left or right,” Reynolds said. “It's about being fair.

“I have said it before in this campaign and I will keep saying it: This isn’t about who we are, it is about who we can be. And that’s why I am proud to have fought for equal rights and why I am pledging to continue the fight until our children and grandchildren can ask the question: ‘Why in the world did we ever need an organization called Equality Pennslvania?’”