The more things change, the more they stay the same…at least when it comes to Virginia Republicans and homophobia (or pandering to the homophobes in their grassroots ranks). #FAIL
HOUSE OF DELEGATES QUASHES GAY MARRIAGE BAN REPEAL WITHOUT HEARING
Richmond, Virginia – On Wednesday, January 9, 2014, Chairman Delegate Mark Cole announced that the Privileges and Elections Committee would not be hearing any constitutional amendments this session – instead waiting until next session.
“Virginia Republican’s refusal to even consider same-sex marriage is backwards and proving increasingly archaic,” said Delegate Surovell. “Marriage is about loving, committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other, in good times and bad.”
· HJ 11: Repeal Gay Marriage Ban (First Reference) (Del. Surovell Chief Patron): Repeals the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in 2006, which banned gay marriage in the Constitution of Virginia.
· SJ1: Repeal Gay Marriage Ban (First Reference) (Sen. Ebbin Chief Patron): Repeals the Marshall-Newman Amendment passed in 2006, which banned gay marriage in the Constitution of Virginia.
Despite feeling frustrated that Republicans refuse to grant same-sex couples basic human rights, Del. Surovell believes that it is important to push constantly for same-sex marriage rights regardless of how the legislature might vote.
“Virginians are ready to repeal the Marshall-Newman amendment,” said Senator Ebbin. “This unfair and discriminatory law denies loving couples the chance to build a life together, throwing up burdens that straight couples never have to face. People deserve to be judged by their actions, and laws that deny people fundamental rights because of their sexual orientation should have no place in Virginia. We have lost and will continue to lose hard-working citizens to other states.”
In 2013, the Washington Post reported that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage while 36% opposed it. In 2012, PPP found that 65% of Virginians supported some type of recognition of same-sex couples.
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