From Del. Rozia Henson:
GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN SIGNS MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION, CODIFYING SAME-SEX AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE PROTECTIONS IN VIRGINIA
Governor Glenn Youngkin signs historic bill introduced by Delegate Rozia A. Henson, Jr. (D-Prince William) to codify marriage license protections for same-sex and interracial couples in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) has signed House Bill 174 into law. Introduced by Delegate Rozia Henson (D-Prince William), HB 174 adds affirmative language to the Virginia Code that will guarantee the issuance of marriage licenses without regard to sex, gender, or race of the two adults seeking to enter into a marriage effective July 1, 2024.
Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and Delegate Henson introduced identical bills in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates respectively — both of which have successfully passed each chamber of the General Assembly with bipartisan support. Virginia will now join 16 other states that also have affirmative marriage equality language in their respective Codes: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hamphsire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
“Senator Ebbin and I introduced legislation to codify marriage equality in Virginia’s Code so that all marriages are protected under Virginia law,” said Delegate Henson. “I am pleased that Governor Youngkin has recognized this historic moment and acted on the bipartisan support of the General Assembly.”
Delegate Henson also adds, “Signing this bill into law will ease concerns from the LGBTQ+ community in Virginia following the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (2022) reversal on abortion rights by the Supreme Court and Justice Thomas’ comments in his concurrence.”
Marriage equality opponents previously testified to legislators in 2023 supporting a ban on marriage equality in Virginia, reasoning that “The [Supreme] Court is clearly in position to reverse its erroneous 2015 decision.”
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