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| Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine announced this week he does not support a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage, but he still opposes gay marriage and civil unions. (Photo by Sam Dean/AP) |
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Commonwealth Coalition
421 E. Franklin, Ste 310
Richmond, VA 23210
804-643-2050
www.votenova.org
Family Foundation
P.O. Box 921
Richmond, VA 23218
804-343-0010
www.va4marriage.org
pan>"That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by the 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."
10 reasons to vote ‘no’ The Commonwealth Coalition, a statewide campaign dedicated to defeating the proposed Virginia constitutional amendment, is promoting 10 reasons to vote no on a gay marriage ban:
1. You believe that the language of the proposed constitutional amendment goes too far in denying legal recognition to all unmarried relationships and not just same-sex relationships.
2. You are concerned that the amendment will be read by the courts to bar enforcement of domestic violence laws against unmarried partners.
3. You are concerned that the amendment will be used by opposing factions in families seeking to deny unmarried partners of loved ones the right to hospital visitation, to decide about organ donation or burial or to determine guardianship of children or property rights.
4. You are a business person or business owner who is concerned that your business will be sued for offering domestic partner benefits or health insurance to someone other than immediate family members or that you will not be able to attract and retain the best employees because you will not be able to match benefits available elsewhere.
5. You believe that civil marriage, as a government benefit, should be available to all without discrimination.
6. You are a religious leader or member of a faith community concerned that the amendment will prohibit you from celebrating marriages or unions consistent with your faith.
7. You are in an unmarried relationship, and you are concerned that the amendment may deny you access to the courts to enforce legal agreements regarding child custody, property and other arrangements essential to provide stability for your relationship and your family.
8. You believe that it is unnecessary to amend the constitution because Virginia statutes have prohibited same-sex marriages for 30 years and civil unions and other legal agreements between same-sex couples for the last three years without any legal challenge.
9. You believe that marriage should be limited to one man and one woman, and civil unions, domestic partnerships and other legal agreements between unmarried gay or straight couples should be legal.
10. You support full marriage equality.
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: JOSHUA LYNSEN COMMENTS
 
Gov. Tim Kaine is urging Virginians to vote against a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage because he fears it could have unintended consequences.
Kaine, a Democrat, issued a statement this week publicly opposing the amendment that goes to voters Nov. 7. In the statement, Kaine said he believes "marriage is between one man and one woman" and that condition is clear under current state law.
"But I am concerned that the broad wording of the proposed constitutional amendment goes much further than that, threatening the constitutional rights of individuals to enter into private contracts, and also threatening the discretion of employers to extend certain benefits, such as health care coverage, to unmarried couples," he said. "For those reasons, I will vote against the marriage amendment in November, and I urge other Virginians to vote against it as well."
Gay rights group Equality Virginia and similar organizations embraced Kaine’s opposition to the proposed amendment, even though Kaine does not support same-sex marriage or civil unions.
"We welcome anyone who’s willing to vote against this constitutional amendment to do so for any reason they choose," said Josh Israel, president of the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club. "There’s just so many reasons to oppose it."
The Commonwealth Coalition, a statewide campaign sponsored by Equality Virginia and dedicated to defeating the amendment, planned to tout Kaine’s stance to further their cause.
Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, the coalition’s director and campaign manager, said Kaine’s concerns will resonate with voters.
"When people of conscience make statements like this, it can go a long way to helping inform others," she said. "That the governor did this will be very helpful to us when we communicate with others."
Breaking a campaign promise?
Kaine’s statement irritated amendment supporters, who noted the governor previously supported the proposal.
Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation, said Kaine signed a survey when he was a gubernatorial candidate saying he supported the amendment as written.
"It is becoming more clear by the day that the Kaine administration has no intention of keeping their campaign promises," Cobb said.
The Family Foundation also criticized Kaine for essentially aligning himself with the Commonwealth Coalition.
"It appears that Governor Kaine has become a spokesperson for those who wish to redefine marriage and is speaking off of their talking points," Cobb said. "It is disappointing that a governor who has spoken so eloquently about his faith has chosen to break his campaign promise.
A call to arms
Separately, in an e-mail alert sent April 10 to Family Foundation members, Cobb said the Commonwealth Coalition is "well-funded and mobilized."
Cobb said the coalition’s largest donations—$100,000—are four times the largest single donation received by the Family Foundation’s va4marriage.org.
"Needless to say, it is becoming increasingly clear that the battle to pass the state constitutional amendment defining marriage will be long and tough," the alert says. "They are working hard and are well-funded. We must match their intensity and their sacrifice if we are going to win this fight!"
Israel said he interpreted the Family Foundation’s alert as a sign "that they’re scared."
"Obviously, we’re doing something right," he said. "Any time the Family Foundation of Virginia feels threatened enough that they start going on the attack against our community, I take that as a very, very good sign."
Israel, who is gay, said his group plans to work with the Commonwealth Coalition to oppose the "hateful, unnecessary constitutional amendment," and counter the Family Foundation.
"Their fear of what may happen if we succeed is unfounded," he said, "but their fear that we may succeed is well founded."
Guthrie Gastañaga, a former Equality Virginia lobbyist who is straight, said there are many reasons to vote against the proposed amendment. (Please see separate story, this page)
But perhaps most important, she said, is the reason Kaine expressed for his opposition: The amendment’s implications are far-reaching, yet widely unknown.
"No one has any real idea what this proposal will mean," Guthrie Gastañaga said. "The threat, the impact, is unknown, but serious, and we shouldn’t put in our constitution something that we don’t understand."
She said her biggest challenge now is reaching and educating voters within the next six months.
"The other side tries to orchestrate this as ‘Voting no is voting in favor of same-sex marriage,’ and it isn’t," she said. "The other side is the side that wants change."
Guthrie Gastañaga said she’s confident that voters will critically examine the proposed amendment.
"Virginians are pretty conservative when it comes ...
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