Rally Against Marriage Amendment

By: Lowell
Published On: 6/12/2006 5:39:32 AM

I thought I'd pass this on, even though many of us - myself included - will be at the John Kerry rally for Jim Webb in Arlington this afternoon.  Still, defeating the marriage amendment is very important if at all possible.  Regardless, we must try.  This thing is a disgrace, if for no other reason than it mars Virginia's historic constitution by enshrining bigotry directly into its Bill of Rights. In addition, the amendment is so poorly written that it could even lead to problems enforcing demostic violence laws against unmarried HETEROSEXUAL persons.  Thing thing is truly awful.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(June 10, 2006)

Contact:

Linda Monk
Chair, We the People PAC
703-360-4462
linda@lindamonk.com

Doug Reimel
Treasurer, We the People PAC
703-447-0438
dougreimel@cox.net

LEGISLATORS AND PRIMARY CANDIDATES TO DEFEND VIRGINIA BILL OF RIGHTS ON ITS 230TH BIRTHDAY AGAINST PROPOSED AMENDMENT

On Monday, June 12, the 230th birthday of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, federal and state legislators, along with candidates in the June 13 Democratic primary, will rally voters to defeat the proposed Marshall-Newman amendment to that document on the fall ballot.

The rally will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the picnic area of Gunston Hall in Mason Neck, Virginia. Gunston Hall is the home of the Declaration+óGé¼Gäós author George Mason. It is sponsored by We the People PAC, an organization founded to educate Virginians about their constitutional heritage and defeat the proposed Marshall-Newman amendment.


Speakers will include U.S. Representative Jim Moran (D-VA), Virginia Senator Linda +óGé¼+ôToddy+óGé¼-¥ Puller, and Delegates Kris Amundson, Adam Ebbin, David Englin, and Mark Sickles. Democratic candidates for federal office will also appear on their last day of campaigning before the June 13 primary. Confirmed are U.S. Senate candidate Harris Miller and Congressional candidates Andrew Hurst and Ken Longmyer.

The Marshall-Newman amendment would deny legal status to contracts between unmarried persons, both gay and straight, that intend +óGé¼+ôto approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage.+óGé¼-¥ Such contracts could include joint property ownership, medical power of attorney, and child support.

If approved, the amendment would be the first time ever that Virginia took away rights instead of protecting them in the state+óGé¼Gäós landmark Declaration of Rights.

On June 12, 1776, Virginia approved a constitution for the state, newly independent from Great Britain, which began with a Declaration of Rights.

Virginia was the first government+óGé¼GÇ¥in human history+óGé¼GÇ¥to adopt a written declaration of rights as part of a written constitution. Although England adopted a Bill of Rights in 1689, it was an ordinary statute and not part of a written constitution.

+óGé¼+ôVirginians invented the constitutional tradition of protecting rights,+óGé¼-¥ said Linda R. Monk, chair of We the People PAC and author of +óGé¼+ôThe Words We Live By: Your Annotated Guide to the Constitution.+óGé¼-¥

Many of the former American colonies followed Virginia+óGé¼Gäós example and included a bill of rights in their new constitutions. In addition, the Virginia Declaration of Rights was used as a model for the U.S. Bill of Rights, adopted in 1791.

+óGé¼+ôThe proposed Marshall-Newman amendment affects the property rights of all Virginians--married or single, gay or straight,+óGé¼-¥ said Monk. +óGé¼+ôIt is so poorly written that it is an embarrassment to Virginia+óGé¼Gäós proud constitutional tradition.+óGé¼-¥

+óGé¼+ôBecause of this tradition,+óGé¼-¥ Monk added, +óGé¼+ô Virginia has a higher standard, and a higher responsibility, when changing its cherished Declaration of Rights.+óGé¼-¥

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