Virginia to fight same-sex marriage ban
Source: Washington Post
Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring will announce Thursday that he believes the states ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and that Virginia will join two same-sex couples in asking a federal court to strike it down, according to an official close to the attorney general with knowledge about the decision.
The action will mark a stunning reversal in the states legal position on same-sex marriage and is a result of November elections in which Democrats swept the states top offices. Herrings predecessor, Republican Ken Cuccinelli II, adamantly opposes gay marriage and had vowed to defend Virginias constitutional amendment banning such unions, which was passed in 2006 with the support of 57 percent of voters.
Herring, too, had voted against same-sex marriage eight years ago, when he was a state senator. But he has said that his views have changed since then and that on Thursday he will file a supportive brief in a lawsuit in Norfolk that challenges the states ban, said two people familiar with his plans.
... He has not informed Republicans in Richmond about his plans; an uproar is likely. GOP lawmakers have worried that Herring would change the states position such decisions are up to the attorney general and have contemplated legislation that would allow them to defend the law in court.
Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/virginia-to-fight-same-sex-marriage-ban/2014/01/22/85a96a10-83ac-11e3-bbe5-6a2a3141e3a9_story.html
Tx4obama
(36,974 posts)What a difference a month and a decent AG makes!
Herself
(185 posts)If Americans had united against all civil rights violations long ago, we would have spared this country, and our children the worst of this country, and provided for a much better world for them to inherit.
The civil rights fights have all been separate. Each spending their lives, time, blood and $$$ for "their fight" and we live under the flag of the "United" States?
The civil war ended but the ideals have never died. Because of the separation we continue the same war, under different titles, and the battlegrounds are dispersed across this country.
quakerboy
(13,917 posts)Elections have consequences!
awoke_in_2003
(34,582 posts)marriage rights are civil rights.
Cha
(296,868 posts)riversedge
(70,092 posts)will do the same.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,316 posts)Last edited Fri Jan 24, 2014, 02:53 PM - Edit history (2)
Reaction is swift and strong to Herring's plans to not defend marriage amendmenthttp://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/reaction-is-swift-and-strong-to-herrings-plans-not-to-defend-marriage-amendment/2014/01/23/7adf421c-8438-11e3-bbe5-6a2a3141e3a9_story.html
Herring to back same-sex couples in Virginia
http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/virginia-politics/herring-to-back-same-sex-couples-in-virginia/article_23b8b3ec-3cc1-537b-aa3a-6f9a55c2d3f0.html
This is a great day for the commonwealth of Virginia, said the plaintiff's lead co-counsel, Theodore B. Olson. Virginias marriage laws are needlessly mean-spirited and cause harsh and gratuitous pain and humiliation to gay and lesbian Virginians and their families.
"Attorney General Herrings actions have brought Virginia that much closer to the quintessential American ideals of equality under the law and the freedom to pursue happiness," Olsen said. "We are grateful for his leadership and look forward to working with him to strike down Virginias odious marriage ban.
Mark Herring explains gay marriage shift
http://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/virginia-gay-marriage-mark-herring-102508.html
NPR story from this morning:
Virginia's New Attorney General Will Not Defend Gay-Marriage Ban
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/23/265050444/virginias-new-attorney-general-will-not-defend-gay-marriage-ban
It has audio clips for your listening pleasure.
Herring: My shift on same-sex marriage
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2014/01/23/mark-herring-same-sex-marriage-virginia/4802895/