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Gold9472
01-14-2006, 05:47 PM
Va. House approves gay marriage ban amendment
Less severe language rejected

http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=4540

By ELIZABETH WEILL-GREENBERG | Jan 13, 5:27 PM

The Virginia House voted 73 to 22 to approve a constitutional amendment banning equal marriage rights for gays. The proposal must be voted on by the Senate and signed by Gov.-elect Tim Kaine (D) before it can go to voters in November.

Kaine spokeswoman Delacey Skinner said that the governor-elect will sign the bill to call for a referendum. Kaine supports the amendment and opposes civil unions, she said. She added that he is interested in discussing measures “to make sure people can still be able to contract with each other.”

However, efforts to limit the scope of the vaguely worded amendment were defeated. Del. Kristen J. Amundson’s (D-District 44) amendment, which received only 35 votes, would have eliminated all language except for: “Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.”

Del. Vivian Watts’ (D-District 39) amendment was also rejected by a vote of 36 to 60. She proposed including a clarification that the amendment would not change “any other right, benefit, obligation or legal status pertaining to persons not married.”

The failure of those amendments shows the true motive behind the bill, said Deborah Sherman, Watts’ legislative aide.

“The defeat of these amendments means the intent is clearly to go after gays and lesbians,” she said. “They insist it won’t hurt those things – insurance, medical directives — but they won’t allow this language, such as Watts suggested, to be part of the resolution.”

Elizabeth Weill-Greenberg can be reached at eweill-greenberg@washblade.com.