Virginia Senate Changes Anti-Gay Ballot Question

[davidinalameda]

http://www.365gay.com/Newscon06/02/021606virginia.htm

A committee examining a proposed amendment to the Virginia Constitution to ban same-sex marriage has changed the wording that would appear on November's ballot.

Rather than using a summary that implies only that the proposed amendment would prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying, the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee decided the whole amendment should be put before voters.

The change would have to be approved by the full Senate and then go to the House were the summary was approved. (story)

Putting the full text before voters could be an asset to the state's LGBT rights groups in fighting the measure. They say that the amendment would also block civil unions and could be used to deny benefits of any kind to unmarried couples, straight or gay.

[Erika]

1. A push for evangelical theocracy? n/t

[Charlie Brown]

2. Not eligible for VA Constitution

Take it to court.

http://legis.state.va.us/Laws/search/Constitution.htm#4S7

No law shall embrace more than one object, which shall be expressed in its title. Nor shall any law be revived or amended with reference to its title, but the act revived or the section amended shall be reenacted and published at length.