Good news from Virginia Cobb, President of The Family Foundation of Virginia.
Victory Alert: Bill to Repeal Marriage Amendment Killed
In 2006, Virginians overwhelmingly voted in favor of a Constitutional amendment protecting the definition of marriage as between a man and woman. Already bills have been presented to overturn this important amendment. We at The Family Foundation are pleased to report the defeat of one such bill here in Richmond. Early this morning, Delegate David Englin (D-45, Alexandria) presented his resolution (HJ 657) to repeal the marriage amendment before a House Privileges and Elections Subcommittee.
Englin argued before the subcommittee that Virginia voters have progressed in their views since the passage of the amendment just over two years ago. He desired to “release the General Assembly from the amendment” and allow them at a future date to recognize domestic partnerships or civil unions. Further, he argued the marriage amendment to be unconstitutional and a deterrent to a younger generation seeking to move to Virginia (despite the fact population in Virginia continues to grow).
Claire Guthrie Gastanaga, the campaign manager from the anti-marriage amendment campaign two years ago, spoke in favor of Englin’s proposal, comparing the marriage amendment to prohibition. She argued first that the amendment intrudes on the free exercise clause (by not allowing churches to hold certain “marriage” ceremonies) and second that it constrains the legislators in light of changing public attitudes on marriage and equality. When asked for evidence of these changing attitudes, she could offer nothing more than that Virginians voted for Barack Obama, who supports civil unions. Upon further investigation by subcommittee members, especially Delegate Bill Janis (R-56, Glen Allen) and Delegate John Cosgrove (R-78, Chesapeake), no other evidence for the need to repeal the amendment was offered.
Delegate Cosgrove (co-patron of the Marriage Amendment) pointed to prior extensive debates on the amendment and tremendous support from Virginians for the Amendment as reasons to oppose Englin. On a 6-1 vote, the committee killed Englin’s bill. Joining Cosgrove and Janis in defeating the measure were Delegates Lacey Putney (I-19, Bedford), Jeff Frederick (R-52, Woodbridge), Kenny Alexander (D-89, Norfolk) and Bud Phillips (D-2, Castlewood). Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74, Richmond) was the only subcommittee member that voted in support.
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