The Democratic Party of York County unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday in support of marriage equality, but don't look for the county's GOP to follow suit.

At its June county committee meeting, the 38 Democrats approved a

resolution that states "the Democratic Party of York County will actively support and advocate on behalf of marriage equality and equal rights for all regardless of sexual orientation."

The county committee resolution comes on the heels of a presidential endorsement of same-sex marriage in May and a June 9 resolution passed by the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

York County Democratic Party Chairman Bob Kefauver said the move was meant to show support for members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community.

They're members of the York community, and they're members of the Democratic committee, he said.

"This is a resolution that is long overdue," Kefauver said. "Citizens of York County, Pennsylvania and of this country who wish to be married should have the right regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation. No matter what opposing beliefs may exist, this is the right thing to do."

But Bob Wilson, chairman of York County Republican Party, heartily disagreed.

"Human beings are human beings, I understand that," he said. "We all have rights, but in terms of a marriage, it is between a man and a woman. It's not same sex. Everybody I have ever had that conversation with, in my party, says it is

between a man and a woman."

He said the Democrats are resorting to "parlor tricks" to get the party's candidates elected.

"We will not bow down to stoop to that level to garner votes from any one group of individuals or any class of people to get our nominee elected," he said. "They know they need help to get elected in November and they are dong anything they can possibly do."

Kefauver said that's a "pretty cynical" response from Wilson.

"This is not pandering to any group whatsoever," he said. "It's just the county committee expressing support of all American citizens regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity."

Kefauver said Democratic candidates can take whatever position they choose on the issue.

The county committee passes other resolutions on different topics, doing so to stake out a platform or a set of beliefs or values for the local party, he said.

- Reach Christina Kauffman at ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.