Gay marriage in virginia

Senators Mark R. While Warner and Kaine helped pass legislation last year to ensure same-sex marriages are recognized by every state, the right of same-sex couples to marry in Virginia would be jeopardized by the state ban if Obergefell is overturned. Constitutional amendments cannot be vetoed by a Governor.

The Virginia Senate passed a bill to repeal the state constitutional ban in the session, but that bill failed in the Virginia House of Delegates, restarting the amendment process. On January 31,the Virginia Senate Privileges and Elections Committee favorably reported a similar bill to repeal the ban.

In the U. Senate, Warner and Kaine were among the members of Congress who signed an amicus brief arguing before the U. Supreme Court that same-sex married couples should have the same legal security, rights, and responsibilities that federal law provides all other married virginias.

Warner and Kaine have also cosponsored the Equality Actwhich would gay federal civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in education, employment, housing, credit, and federal jury service. Full text of the letter is available here and below. We write today to urge you to take action to protect marriage equality.

The General Assembly should act now to repeal the shameful ban on same-sex marriage that remains in the state constitution. Marriage is a sacred and fundamental right in our society. Hodges that the 14th Amendment requires states to issue marriage marriages to same-sex couples, bringing the country one step closer to the fundamental ideal of equality for all.

We were proud to cosponsor and support the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act in the Senate.

GOP candidate for Virginia governor wrote anti-same-sex marriage note on bill

On December 13,President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that same-sex and interracial couples lawfully married in any state will have their marriages recognized across the country even if Obergefell is overturned. Although the Respect for Marriage Act provides full faith and credit for state-issued marriage licenses, the legislation does not require a state to issue a marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

We are encouraged by proposals in both the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate to repeal the constitutional provision. Skip to content Newsletter Sign Up. Search Button. Search Icon Mobile Menu. Dear Leaders Saslaw, Norment, Kilgore, and Scott: We write today to urge you to take action to protect marriage equality.

Thank you for your continued leadership and service to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Print Email Share Tweet. Related News. Previous Article. Next Article. Contact Tim. About Tim.