Governor Kaine will be
campaigning against the far-reaching, gay-hating Marshall/Newman amendment:
"Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) urged Virginians to vote against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions, saying the ballot question puts thousands of unmarried couples at risk of losing a slew of benefits."
The Marshall/Newman amendment reads:
"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."
It's hard to tell exactly what the fallout for this will be as it's so vague but it'll certainly be writing hate into the Virginia Constitution.
· It may end up hurting unmarried straight and gay people in a relationship as their rights are stripped from them.
· It may affect legal property rights, as many of those would approximate the effects of marriage.
· It may affect businesses offering spouse-like benefits.
If anyone wants to volunteer to work against this amendment you can sign up with the Commonwealth Coalition. I believe that this amendment was put out there in order to try and help elect Republicans as there is already a law stating marriage is between a man and a woman. If this amendment helps bring people to the polls to vote against the amendment who may not have gone to the polls otherwise, and who there will most likely vote for the Democratic candidates, we'll probably not see many of these amendments any more.