• GAYRVA.COM
  • ABOUT
  • Mobile Site

GayRVA

  • News & Views
    • Headlines
    • History
    • Op/Ed
  • Arts & Events
    • Calendar
    • Photos
    • Nightlife
    • Submit an Event
  • Lifestyle
    • Food & Drink
    • Dating & Relationships
    • Health & Fitness
    • Style
  • Guide
    • Attractions
    • Bars & Clubs
    • Faith
    • Health & Beauty
    • Hotels
    • Legal Resources
    • Non-Profit, Volunteer & Activism
    • Real Estate
    • Recreation
    • Restaurants
    • Shopping
    • Support & Social Groups
    • Theaters
    • Travel
  • Calendar
  • Advertise
  • Bars & Clubs
  • Business Directory
  • Dating
  • Nightlife
  • Photos
  • Visit Richmond
  • Home
  • >
  • Same-sex marriage ban remains in Virginia Constitution
  • You are not logged in.
  • LOGIN
  • News & Views

    Christian Conservatives Claim Bill...

    oann-4
  • News & Views

    RTD Quietly Apologizes For...

    ggUwXDMz_400x400
  • Arts & Events

    On Their Debut Album,...

    npr-1----farrah-skeiky_wide-05af2f640c5bed5ccb7df1f871116072c1d54b78-s800-c85
  • News & Views

    “Queers Will Burn And...

    michael-hill-4
  • Arts & Events

    “Queer Voices” Brings Needed...

    queervoiceslitcrawl
  • News & Views

    VAVP Brings NERVE: Stories...

    29314750_1888291627850560_5798738618818232320_n
  • News & Views

    Controversy Erupts After William...

    wmpridetop
  • News & Views

    Pompeo’s Anti-LGBTQ Views Just...

    pompeo-gay-4
  • News & Views

    Prominent LGBTQ Rights Attorney...

    Day0uiQVAAABMs8
  • News & Views

    LGBTQ Advocacy Group GetEQUAL...

    1423588845

Featured

    • Headlines
    • History
    • Op/Ed
  • Question

    Tacos vs Pizza: You must choose!

    View Results

    Loading ... Loading ...

Same-sex marriage ban remains in Virginia Constitution

GayRVA Staff
GayRVA Staff
July 6, 2015
    • Tweet

    Read More: Marshall Newman amendment, Same-Sex Marriage

    1830VAConstConv01

    The Virginia Constitution will continue to carry the words from a 2007 constitutional amendment requiring marriage to be between on man and one woman.

    The ban, known as the Marshall-Newman Amendment, (named after Del. Bob Marshal and Sen. Stephen Newman, passed by referendum in 2006 and was signed into law by now-disgraced former VA Governor Bob McDonnell. It states:

    That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions. This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.

    Marriage equality came to the Commonwealth back in October of 2014, and attempts were made by Virginia’s elected officials to remove the language during the 2015 General Assembly.

    While the language remains, it is invalid and has no baring on same-sex marriages which are now legal in the state.

    Delegate Marcus B. Simon (VA-53) threw his support behind the fight for equal rights and was asked by Governor McAuliffe to carry HB1600, a bill which would modernize the definitions of family components in Virginia to be gender neutral.

    Simon also authored  HB 1288  which would have remove the language of the ban from the state’s code.

    “Virginia can’t build a 21st century brand and economy as long as we continue to have a 19th century legal scheme regarding marriage and families,” said Simon in a statement about his equality legislation for the 2015 session, “As an elected official, it is my duty to uphold the rights of all citizens in the Commonwealth. I consider the fight for equal rights to be an integral part of this.”

    Simon was not alone, he’s among 11 patrons on HB 1600, and a senate version of HB 1288, SB 682, authored by Virginia’s only openly gay Senator Adam Ebbin, similarly aimed to remove the codified language.

    Simon’s bills failed to get out of committee, leaving language unchanged in both the state code and the constitution.

    Virginia now joins many other states who still have same-sex marriage bans in their constitution, including Idaho.

    The Virginia Constitution was signed alongside the Declaration of Independence in 1776. There have been several small changes made since, with six larger changes in 1830, 1851, 1864, 1870, 1902, and 1971. The 1902 change, for example, included disenfranchisement of Blacks across the Commonwealth, and wasn’t removed until the 1960′s as part of Federal civil rights laws.

    Any changes to the State’s constitution require passage from both the House and the Senate twice, with an election in between. The change then must go on the ballot and pass with a majority of voters supporting it.

      • Tweet
      State Capitol In Richmond, Virginia

      Related Stories

      Pro-LGBTQ Bills Strike A Positive Note at the Start of the 2018 General Assembly

      It’s General Assembly time, traditionally a busy season for GayRVA. However, searches through Virginia’s Legislative Information System (LIS) have revealed a curious thing; unlike previous years, including this past year — which brought us bills attempting to deny transgender people the right to use the bathroom in public and allow faith-based organizations to discriminate against married [...]

      January 12, 2018
      • White House omits name of First Gentleman of Luxembourg in spouses of world leaders’ photo, May 27, 2017
      • Taiwan becomes first Asian nation to legalize same-sex marriage, May 24, 2017
      • Mississippi funeral home refuses man’s body because he married a man, Lambda Legal files suit, May 2, 2017
      • Prev Federal judge who upheld Louisiana same-sex marriage ban rescinds order
      • Next Virginia GOP promises to fight for “God-given” right to discriminate after Supreme Court marriage decision
      • Topics
      • Back to top
      ACLU Babe's of Carytown Bob Marshall Carytown Discrimination Diversity Richmond DOMA Equality Virginia Fan Free Clinic Featured Fourth Friday GA 2016 gallery Gay Community Center of Richmond GCCR Godfrey's History HRC Human Rights Campaign Lesbian LGBT LGBTQ LGBT Rights Mark Herring Marriage Equality movie reviews Movies music Nations North Carolina Photos Richmond Richmond Triangle Players ROSMY rva theater RVA theatre Same-Sex Marriage Transgender transgender bathroom use Trump tv jerry University of Richmond VA Pride VCU video

      More News

      • oann-4 Christian Conservatives Claim Bill Banning Conversion Therapy Would Also Ban The Bible
      • ggUwXDMz_400x400 RTD Quietly Apologizes For Hate Group Ad, Donates Proceeds to Diversity Richmond
      • michael-hill-4 “Queers Will Burn And So Will You”: High School Teacher Quits After Months Of Anti-Gay Threats
      • Recent Posts

        • Christian Conservatives Claim Bill Banning Conversion Therapy Would Also Ban The Bible
        • RTD Quietly Apologizes For Hate Group Ad, Donates Proceeds to Diversity Richmond
        • On Their Debut Album, HIRS Unleashes The Kind Of Queer Rage We Need Right Now
        • “Queers Will Burn And So Will You”: High School Teacher Quits After Months Of Anti-Gay Threats
        • “Queer Voices” Brings Needed LGBTQ Representation To the Literary World at Babes Friday
      • Friend Activity

      our partners

      Gungho Guide

      QUICK LINKS

      About

      • About GayRVA
      • Advertise
      • Contact Us
      • Privacy Policy

      Arts & Events

      • Photos
      • Nightlife
      • Calendar
      • Archive

      Connect

      • YouTube
      • Twitter
      • Facebook
      • E-Newsletter

      Guides

      • Travel
      • Resources
      • Real Estate
      • Business Directory

      Lifestyle

      • Style
      • Health & Fitness
      • Food & Drink
      • Dating & Relationships

      Partner Links

      • RMCVB
      • Gungho Guides
      • GCCR

      Copyright (c) 2018 GayRVA.com | Website Developed By CO+LAB

      GayRVAout. spoken.

      Continue to GayRVA (X)