From Virginia Partisans, Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club
Virginia Partisans Applaud Governor Warner's Amendments to Anti-Gay "Marriage Affirmation Act"
The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club today applauded Virginia Governor Mark Warner's amendments to the anti-gay “Marriage Affirmation” bill.
The bill, HB 751, patroned by Republican Delegate Robert Marshall (Prince William), not only re-states Virginia's existing ban on same-sex civil unions, but would also prohibit and nullify any “partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage.” This language could eliminate the right of same-sex couples in Virginia to execute a will, sign a living will, craft custody agreements, and each other in the hospital.
The Governor's amendments are a parliamentary partial veto, aimed to block the bill, by proposing to strike the sections which would actually change Virginia law, specifically the contract language. If a majority of either the Virginia Senate or House of Delegates reject the amendments, the bill would require a 2/3s vote of both bodies to override the Governor's veto.
Partisans President Josh Israel explained, “Governor Warner showed true leadership by opposing these unconstitutional, unnecessary, and unconscionably bigoted restrictions. Once again, the Governor has shown that, unlike the Republican legislature and Attorney General, he is committed to ‘One Virginia' that includes and respects all of its citizens. By proposing these amendments, he is preventing this hateful and hasty legislation.”
Israel added, “We would encourage the Republican legislature to stop focusing so much of its attention on demagoguery and division - and to focus more of its attention on solving the budget crisis it has created.”
The Virginia Partisans, a nonprofit organization and a chapter of the National Stonewall Democrats, serve as a channel for the participation and involvement of gays and lesbians in the Democratic Party throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia.
For more information on the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, visit www.vapartisans.org
For the Governor's Statement, visit
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?ses=041&typ=bil&val=HB751To read the legislation, visit
http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?041+ful+HB751ER