In April 2005, NPR had a piece called “Gay in the Heartland.” The reporter looked at the lives of rural gays and lesbians through the lens of her mother and friends. When I first heard the report I was a mess at the end. Blubbering in the coffee when a gay chorus nailed “My Old Kentucky Home.”

A cinematic look at the joys and struggles of what it means to be gay in small town America will be released soon. Joe Wilson, a native of Oil City, Pennsylvania, went to Canada and married his partner  Dean Hamer. When they returned to the States, the couple put an announcement in the Oil City local paper. The hate mail came in of course, but a parent of a gay son contacted the couple; their new documentary “Out in the Silence” looks at the difficulties the mother and son faced with homophobia from their neighbors. The film will get a national release next year and will be previewed in Keystone State PBS stations.

As someone who made a conscious choice for city dwelling (all night diners and anonymity are hard to give up ), it would be easy to mock gays and lesbians from rural areas and ask why go through the hassle. That is the wrong question. If our identities are complex, contradictory things, then it makes perfect sense  for gays to fight for the right to live and prosper in red states.

Sen. Leach held a press conference Wednesday where he announced the Marriage Equality Bill. Keystone Progress, a “a multi-issue progressive advocacy organization that combines cutting edge online organizing and communications with rapid and hard-hitting earned media strategies” according to their website, has been covering the progress of Sen. Leach’s bill.

Sen. Leach debated Pastor Bill Devlin on Philadelphia local station Fox 29 before his news conference. Sen. Leach expressed his desire to extend marriage rights to gay and lesbians living in Pennsylvania. Pastor Devlin argued that the bill is a “train wreck” that would deny rights for children, such as having a mother and a father.

Sen. Daylin Leach (D) announced the marriage equality bill on Wednesday.

“There has never been a more propitious time for Pennsylvania to embrace equality and enshrine the civil right of all Pennsylvanians to marry,” Leach told reporters.

The bill would provide “full and equal marriage rights to same-sex couples in Pennsylvania,” said Leach. But it would not force churches to conduct ceremonies or recognize same-sex marriages against church doctrine.

The legislation also would recognize same-sex marriages conducted in other areas where they are legal.

Earlier this month, Republican state Sen. John Eichelberger filed a bill to amend the state constitution to limit marriage to opposite-sex couples.

The state already has a so-called Defense of Marriage law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples, but Eichelberger said the law could be overturned by a judge.  Only through a constitutional amendment could the intent of the law be carried out without “judicial interference.”

A similar proposed amendment was pulled last year, just hours before the state Senate was expected to approve it. The measure would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions.

While it was likely to pass the Senate, the amendment was equally likely to have died in the House. An attempt to move the amendment in 2006 also failed.

Republicans control the Senate 30-20, but Democrats have a 104-99 majority in the House.

Amending the constitution requires approval from both the House and Senate in two consecutive two-year sessions before the measure goes to voters for final approval in a statewide referendum.

Last year, a poll found that although most Pennsylvanians oppose same-sex marriage, there was widespread support for civil unions. The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, found 65 percent of those questioned support civil unions, while only 27 percent were opposed.

Republican state Sen. John Eichelberger, pointing to the legalization of gay marriage in Iowa and four New England , time is running out to preserve the “traditional family” in Pennsylvania.

The state already has a so-called Defense of Marriage law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples, but Eichelberger at a Tuesday news conference said the law could be overturned by a judge.  Only through a constitutional amendment could the intent of the law be carried out without “judicial interference,” he said.

A similar proposed amendment was pulled last year, just hours before the state Senate was expected to approve it. The measure would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions.

While it was likely to pass the Senate, the amendment was equally likely to have died in the House.

An attempt to move the amendment in 2006 also failed.

Democrats and LGBT rights groups say they will fight Eichelberger’s amendment. They say that the measure would enshrine discrimination into the constitution.

“Clearly, Pennsylvania is among Alabama and Mississippi in terms of gay rights,” Malcolm Lazin, the executive director of the Equality Forum, told the Philadelphia Daily News.

Republicans control the Senate 30-20, but Democrats have a 104-99 majority in the House.

Amending the constitution requires approval from both the House and Senate in two consecutive two-year sessions before the measure goes to voters for final approval in a statewide referendum.

Last year, a poll found that although most Pennsylvanians oppose same-sex marriage, there was widespread support for civil unions.

The poll, conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, found 65 percent of those questioned support civil unions, while only 27 percent were opposed.

John Gechter, 22, a molecular biology senior, is suspended from Grove City College, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, for one year.

Gechter said he now intends to transfer to another school to complete the number of credits he needs to graduate. He said he hopes to use the credits to return to Grove City College and graduate next year.

A spokesperson for the college would confirm only that Gechter has withdrawn. 

He has not indicated where he intends to complete his studies and says he is still considering a lawsuit against the college.

Gechter earlier this week said he appeared in the online porn because he needed the money to pay his tuition and that he was suspended because of “my occupation. I was not doing anything illegal.”

The college said he was suspended because he “exhibited behavior contrary to the values” of the college.

He began is outside career when he was a sophomore, appearing in about 15 gay porn scenes under the screen name Vincent DeSalvo.

In an interview with The Allied News, he said his secret was discovered by another student who had been surfing the internet.  That student, according to Gechter, then emailed photos of a naked Gechter to other students.

Within hours, almost everyone on the campus had received the email. The following day the pictures came to the attention of college officials.

The non-denominational college says on its website “The ethical absolutes of the Ten Commandments and Christ’s moral teachings guide the effort to develop intellect and character in the classroom, chapel, and cocurricular activities.”

In 2003, the Princeton Review listing of colleges across the country listed Grove City College as the least gay-friendly campus in the country.

John Gechter, 22, was suspended by Grove City College because he “exhibited behavior contrary to the values” of the college.

But the molecular biology senior said he needed the money to pay his tuition.

“I absolutely believe this college violated my rights,” Gechter told the Allied News of Grove City. “They [suspended] me based on my occupation. I was not doing anything illegal.”

He began his outside career when he was a sophomore, appearing in about 15 gay porn scenes under the screen name Vincent DeSalvo.

In an interview with The Allied News, he said his secret was discovered by another student who had been surfing the internet.  That student, according to Gechter, then sent emails of photos of a naked Gechter to other students.

Within hours, almost everyone on the campus had received the email. The following day the pictures came to the attention of college officials.

The non-denominational college says on its website “The ethical absolutes of the Ten Commandments and Christ’s moral teachings guide the effort to develop intellect and character in the classroom, chapel, and co-curricular activities.”

No date has been set for hearing Gechter’s appeal.

In 2003, the Princeton Review listing of colleges across the country listed Grove City College as the least gay-friendly campus in the country.

The 27-year-old could have received the death sentence, but the jury of eight men and four women could not reach a unanimous decision on whether the prosecution had met the burden of proof for the death penalty.

Cuadra was found guilty last Thursday of killing Kocis in 2007. Cuadra’s former lover and business partner, 35-year-old Joseph Kerekes, already is serving life after pleading guilty last December to second degree murder after making a deal with prosecutors.

Cuadra and Kerekes saw Kocis as a business competitor; they wanted a male model under contract with Kocis.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick  called on the jury to impose the death penalty.  In his summation, Melnick told the court that Kerekes is a murderer but that Cuadra played a “predominant role in this homicide.”

Among the witnesses Melnick called to testify in the penalty phase Friday were Kocis’ parents who described their son as ” loving, caring [and] generous.”

“You have to know Bryan, if only you knew Bryan the way we did, he was very private,” Joyce Kocis testified. “He was the type of person who did things for people.”

Michael Kocis said he has not had a full night’s sleep since his son died.

“I’m going to try and get through this,” he told the court, wiping tears from his face.

Cuadra was found guilty of killing Kocis last week. Cuadra’s former lover and business partner, 35-year-old Joseph Kerekes, already is serving life after pleading guilty last December to second degree murder after making a deal with prosecutors.

Cuadra and Kerekes saw Kocis as a business competitor; the pair wanted a male model who was under contract with Kocis.

Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick has called on the jury to impose the death penalty.  In his summation, Melnick told the court that Kerekes is a murderer but that Cuadra played a “predominant role in this homicide.”

Among the witnesses Melnick called to testify in the penalty phase Friday were Kocis’ parents, who described their son as ” loving, caring [and] generous.”

“You have to know Bryan, if only you knew Bryan the way we did, he was very private,” Joyce Kocis testified. “He was the type of person who did things for people.”

Michael Kocis said he has not had a full night’s sleep since his son died.

“I’m going to try and get through this,” he told the court, wiping tears from his face.

He said that ” [Bryan was his] first and only son” – an Eagle Scout and a deacon at his church who also donated money to groups that helped battered women.

Cuadra’s attorney, Joseph D’Andrea, called on the jury to spare his client’s life.

He argued that Kerekes was a controlling man who manipulated Cuadra.  He also told the jury that Kerekes was the principle in the killing and that Cuadra’s role was getting Kerekes into the house and in helping hide evidence.

D’Andrea also pointed to Cuadra’s service in the U.S. Navy and told the jury that he had no prior criminal convictions. He also argued that Cuadra had been a victim of sexual abuse as a child by his stepfather.

Cuadra’s brother, Jose, testified that the abuse occurred in the bed he shared with his brother and that when he was 16 his brother left home.

They lost touch and were only reunited when he and his sister found Cuadra on Myspace.

Kocis’ body was discovered in his home by firefighters responding to a blaze in the rural house in January 2007. More than 80 percent of his body was covered by third-degree burns and police said the fire had been set deliberately to destroy evidence.

An autopsy found that Kocis died of massive blood loss after his head was nearly sliced off. He suffered between 28 and 29 post mortem stab wounds before his home was torched.

Because it is a capital murder case, the jury tomorrow will deliberate whether Cuadra should receive the death sentence or life behind bars. 

In addition to the murder conviction, the jury also found him guilty of 11 other counts including theft, robbery, arson and abuse of corpse.

Cuadra’s former lover and business partner, 35-year-old Joseph Kerekes, already is serving life after pleading guilty last December to second degree murder after making a deal with prosecutors.

The prosecution maintained that Kocis was murdered by Cuadra and Kerekes in a business rivalry over the lucrative gay porn industry. 

In closing arguments, defense attorney Joseph D’Andrea told the jury that Cuadra was guilty of nothing more than being at Kocis’ home during the murder and that it was Kerekes who committed the killing.

Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Michael Melnick, in his summation, told the court that he agreed that Kerekes is a murderer but that Cuadra played a “predominant role in this homicide.”

Prior to closing arguments, Melnick grilled Cuadra on the stand for two hours, attempting to pick apart his testimony that he is innocent.

Step by step Melnick went over the evidence gathered in wiretaps and statements to police in which he discussed his involvement in the murder of the Cobra Video owner.

Several times Cuadra broke down in tears, but stuck to his story that it was Kerekes not him who murdered Kocis.

“He pleaded guilty to murder,” Cuadra said. “I did not. For two years, I have held on to my innocence.” 

Kerekes was subpoenaed by the defense but refused to testify earlier this week.

Kocis’ body was discovered in his home by firefighters responding to a blaze in the rural house in January 2007. More than 80 percent of his body was covered by third-degree burns and police said the fire had been set deliberately to destroy evidence.

An autopsy found that Kocis died of massive blood loss after his head was nearly sliced off. He suffered between 28 and 29 post mortem stab wounds before his home was torched.

It would amend the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act to include “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” as protected classes. The bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Frankel (D) has 79 co-sponsors from both parties and from across the commonwealth.

“This legislation is critical to thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Pennsylvanians who are trying to work and have a roof over their heads, and it enjoys substantial support from Pennsylvanians from every corner of the Commonwealth,” said Jake Kaskey, policy and outreach coordinator of Equality Advocates Pennsylvania.

“At a time when more and more people across the state find themselves unemployed, we need to make sure every Pennsylvanian who wants to work has a fair chance at work,” Kaskey added.

The bill is expected to go to the House State Government Committee, where it has been assigned in the past.

“We are very encouraged by the record number of legislators who have signed on as co-sponsors of this bill and we think it is a good sign for future progress,” added Andy Hoover, legislative director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.

Current Pennsylvania law provides basic legal protection against discrimination on the bases of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, handicap or disability, education and the use of a guide dog. 

Thirteen Pennsylvania municipalities have already enacted civil rights laws including protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity or expression. State College also has an ordinance that only covers sexual orientation discrimination in housing and employment. 

But nearly 80  percent of the state’s 12 million residents live or work in communities that do not provide these protections. 

Twenty states in the country have similar laws, including Pennsylvania’s neighboring states of New Jersey, Maryland and New York.