"We want to make sure that Virginia families know that here in Virginia, it is not just a Supreme Court decision that protects them, but it is also our state constitution. It'll be a big step for Virginia to ensure that every family knows that Virginia is a place that welcomes them, appreciates them, and sees them for the wonderful family and Virginians that they are."
"That provision, approved by 57 percent of voters nearly two decades ago, defined marriage as between one man and one woman and barred recognition of any legal status "approximating" marriage. Although federal courts rendered it unenforceable in 2014, it has remained embedded in Virginia's constitution as a relic of a different political era."
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed legislation to send a slate of constitutional amendments to voters, including one to remove Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage and establish an affirmative right to marriage equality. She described the existing ban as antiquated and said families should not have to rely solely on court decisions for their security, stressing the need for constitutional protection. Equality Virginia and executive director Narissa Rahaman supported removing the 2006 Marshall-Newman Amendment, which defined marriage as between one man and one woman and barred recognition of any legal status "approximating" marriage. Federal courts rendered that amendment unenforceable in 2014, but it remains in the constitution.
Read at Advocate.com
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