On Valentine’s Day 2013 gay and lesbian Virginians once again participated in “Witness for Marriage“, protests in five cities across the Commonwealth by going to the local courthouse and applying for marriage licenses. At a time when the United States as a whole is moving towards full equality for LGBT Americans, Virginia still lags behind. (Photo credit: GayRVA)
At the General Assembly before the event the Alliance for Progressive Values held a press conference with Delegate Scott Surovell (Alexandria) who introduced legislation this year that had it passed would have opened the doors of the courthouse to gay and lesbian couples by ending the so called Marshall/Newman amendment. We were joined by representatives from Equality Virginia, People of Faith for Equality, Get Equal VA and the First Unitarian Church of Richmond as well as gay and lesbian couples from across the state.
Victoria Bragunier, APV Public Policy Director, spoke at the press conference:
“Today is Valentine’s Day. A day marked by promises of love and fidelity—a day many celebrate by getting married. Yet, in the Commonwealth of VA, gay and lesbian couples are still denied this right because of the Marshall-Newman Amendment.
The Marshall-Newman Amendment defines marriage as solely between one man and one woman and bans recognition of same sex marriage and civil unions, keeping Virginia from recognizing such arrangements formed in other states.”
