RK ARCHIVE - VA Dem Party UNANIMOUSLY Adopts Partisans Resolution OPPOSING Marshall/Newman Amendment

Democratic Party of Virginia State Central Committee Unanimous Adopts "Virginia Partisans Resolution" Opposing the Proposed Marshall/Newman Constitutional Amendment
The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club today cheered the unanimous vote of the Democratic Party of Virginia's State Central Committee to strongly oppose the November's ballot referendum on the Marshall/Newman so-called "Marriage Amendment."

The resolution, offered by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club and adopted at today's State Central Committee meeting in Charlottesville, VA, puts the Democratic Party of Virginia squarely on the side of equality for all. The Republican Party of Virginia, sadly, has already adopted a resolution endorsing this hateful attempt to write discrimination into the Bill of Rights of Virginia's constitution.

Partisans President Josh Israel lauded the vote. "Far too often, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and allied Virginians complain that there is no difference between the Democratic and Republican parties on issues of equality. Today's vote should send a strong message, once and for all, that the difference between the parties could not be starker. The Democratic Party stands for inclusion, the Republican Party stands for discrimination. it's as simple as that."

The Partisans, a statewide organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and allied Democrats, also noted that leading Virginia Democrats have already announced their opposition to the amendment. In addition to the majority of Democratic state legislators and several local Democratic committees, Governor Tim Kaine, Congressman Jim Moran, former US Senator Chuck Robb, Democratic Senate nominee Jim Webb, former Senate candidate Harris Miller, and numerous local and district Democratic committees have all publicly announced their opposition to the November 7th ballot referendum.

The proposed amendment, supported by the Republican majorities in the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates, would prohibit the Commonwealth of Virginia and any localities from granting any legal union, domestic partnership, or other similar legal status to any same-sex or unmarried couple. The broad language would amend Virginia's constitution to say:

"That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."

For more information on the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, visit www.vapartisans.org.

Comments

Save the Virginia Bill of Rights! (Kindler - 6/25/2006 4:16:16 PM)

I would strongly encourage all the enemies of this proposed amendment to continually remind Virginians that this is a proposal to deface and debase one of the most important documents in Virginian, American and world history -- the Virginia Bill of Rights, which preceded and greatly influenced the Bill of Rights adopted shortly thereafter by the U.S. government. To turn this document from a beacon of freedom into a tool of repression would be a dangerous mistake.

See my previous diary on this topic at .

Save the Virginia Bill of Rights! (Kindler - 6/25/2006 4:16:47 PM)

See my previous diary on this topic at http://raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=2454.