Dems highlight need to protect same-sex marriage in Virginia Constitution

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Democrats are once again highlighting the need to pass a constitutional amendment to protect same-sex marriage in Virginia. 

It comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to overturn a landmark ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. 

Currently, Virginia’s Constitution includes language that says the state shall only recognize a marriage between one man and one woman, meaning if the High Court does overturn its previous ruling, same-sex marriage would likely be banned in Virginia. 

“A lot of the people don’t realize that the Virginia Constitution has some outdated language that is out of compliance with our current law,” said State Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria).

However, Ebbin and his fellow Democrats are trying to pass a constitutional amendment to repeal that language and require clerks to issue marriage licenses to couples regardless of their race, sex or gender. Ebbin said the amendment will protect same-sex couples in Virginia, regardless of what the Supreme Court does in the future. 

“We don’t need that uncertainty, which is why we need to amend our constitution to bring it into compliance with the realities of the 21st century,” Ebbin said.

However, not everyone is on board. Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation, has issues with the fact that the amendment makes a distinction between someone’s sex and gender, and she says marriage should remain between one man and one woman. 

“We still stand by the fact that every child deserves the opportunity to have a mom and a dad wherever possible,” Cobb said. “When a child is placed into a same-sex couple's family, they are deprived of their biological mother or their biological father.”

For any changes to the Virginia Constitution to be made, the proposed amendment must be passed by the General Assembly during next year’s session and approved by voters next November.