VA Congress Passes Anti-Gay Marriage Constitutional Amendment Voter Referendum

Well, it looks like Virginia may get to show it's true colors regarding human rights come this November, as this referendum just passed both the Virginia House and Senate.

Now the only hurdle for the referendum is now Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D).  Considering the vote was unanimous in both the House & Senate his will is largely irrelevant.

I have a lot of faith in Virginians as moderate practical people.  I am proud to have been born and raised in Virginia, but on this subject I'm very afraid the side that many people will come down upon.  Anyone who values equality needs to start thinking about what they are going to do to start the process of making sure that Virginia doesn't write inequality into it's constitution.

Summary below the fold.

UPDATE: It was not clear to me when I found this that it was in fact a vote to ammend the original referendum to display the entire bill at the ballotbox. Thanks to VirginiaBelle for pointing that out.

Provides for a referendum at the November 2006 election on approval of a proposed constitutional amendment to define marriage. The proposed amendment provides 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." The proposed amendment also prohibits the Commonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage." Further, the proposed amendment prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."

The Washington Post also had an article regarding this legislation on Feb 21st.