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News :: = Elections &=20 Legislation
Gay rights vs. =E2=80=98family = values=E2=80=99 over same-sex=20 marriage	Current rating: 0
by Jeff South Email:=20 jcsouth[nospam]vcu.edu = (unverified!)	19 Jan 2005 Modified: = 11:36:08 AM=20
The state=E2=80=99s = largest gay-rights=20 group, Equality Virginia, and a prominent = =E2=80=9Ctraditional values=E2=80=9D=20 organization, the Family Foundation of Virginia, have = squared=20 off in a legislative debate over same-sex marriage. =
By Thomas=20 Gehring Capital News Service RICHMOND -- The state's largest gay-rights = group,=20 Equality Virginia, and a prominent "traditional = values"=20 organization, the Family Foundation of Virginia, have = squared=20 off in a legislative debate over same-sex = marriage. The Family Foundation wants to amend the = state=20 Constitution to define marriage as between a man and a = woman -=20 and to ensure that Virginia won't recognize same-sex=20 unions. "The national elections in November were a = clear=20 statement by the American people that traditional = values and=20 traditional marriage matter," said Victoria Cobb, the = group's=20 executive director. Equality Virginia has mobilized against the = proposed=20 constitutional amendment. During last week's Gay, = Lesbian,=20 Bisexual and Transgender Lobby Day at the Capitol, = more than=20 200 gay-rights supporters turned out to voice their = concerns=20 to their legislators. "We know we'll win; it will just take some = time," said=20 Dyana Mason, Equality Virginia's executive=20 director. Gay-rights advocates' goals for the session=20 include: Defeating the proposed amendment to the = Virginia=20 Constitution. The amendment, which requires approval = by the=20 General Assembly and by voters, "provides that = marriage may=20 exist only between a man and woman and that nothing = in the=20 Constitution shall be interpreted to require the=20 Commonwealth to recognize or permit same-sex=20 marriages." Repealing last year's House Bill 751 = (titled the=20 Affirmation of Marriage Act), which prohibits = same-sex=20 couples from entering into contracts "purporting to = bestow=20 the privileges or obligations of = marriage." Repealing Virginia's "Crimes Against = Nature" law,=20 which was ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme = Court=20 in 2003. Granting private corporations the right to = allow=20 domestic partnership benefits. Virginia is currently = the=20 only state in the country that doesn't do=20 so. "We believe that the Marriage Affirmation = Act, a huge=20 backwards step for Virginia, should be repealed," = Mason said=20 during Thursday's packed press conference. "And we = believe=20 that the Virginia Constitution should never be the = place to=20 codify discrimination." Several religious leaders, including the Rev. = Kharma=20 Amos of the Metropolitan Community Church of Northern=20 Virginia, agreed. "It is unfortunate that the lines separating = church and=20 state on the issue of marriage have become so = blurred," Amos=20 said. "Even if the government were to grant civil = marriage=20 equality, by whatever name, no church or religious = community=20 could ever be forced or required to recognize or bless = any=20 relationship that went against its = beliefs." The Family Foundation is pushing hard for the = marriage=20 amendment. The organization fears that otherwise, = "activist=20 courts" will force Virginia to recognize same-sex=20 marriages. "Virginia has done all it can to protect = marriage, but=20 any activist court or judge can at any time impose = same-sex=20 marriage on the Commonwealth," Cobb said. "Americans = simply do=20 not support the notion of same-sex = marriage." Delegate John Cosgrove, R-Chesapeake, is = sponsoring the=20 proposed constitutional amendment, House Joint = Resolution 528.=20 He said he filed the paperwork in July, before voters = in 11=20 states passed similar legislation during the November=20 elections. Cosgrove said an amendment is necessary = because=20 "liberal courts" could find Virginia's Affirmation of = Marriage=20 Act unconstitutional. "Marriage is simply too important to leave to = liberal=20 activist judges," Cosgrove said. Note: Thomas Gehring is a student in the = School of Mass=20 Communications at Virginia Commonwealth University, = which=20 operates Capital News Service. Links Equality Virginia: http://www.equalityvirginia.org/ Family Foundation of Virginia: http://www.familyfoundation.org/
This=20 work is in the public domain

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