Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 13:18:08 -0500 From: Virginians For Justice Subject: Leg. Action Alert - Marriage January 24, 1996 Virginians for Justice ***** ACTION ALERT Preemptive Strike Against Hawaii Marriage Case Submitted to Virginia Legislature Delegate Roger McClure (R-Centreville) has submitted legislation to the 1996 Virginia General Assembly that would amend Virginia code to ostensibly nullify the effects of the Hawaii "gay marriage" court case should that decision legalize same-sex marriages in Hawaii. The Hawaii case is scheduled to be heard before the Hawaii Supreme Court in the fall of 1996. Delegate McClure's copatron is the notoriously anti-gay Delegate James O'Brien (R-Clifton) who in 1993 was unsuccessful in his attempt to codify a ban on lesbians and gays in the Virginia National Guard. Both McClure's and O'Brien's districts are in Fairfax County. House Bill 1189 would enact a new code section that declares void any marriage which is unlawful in Virginia, though legal in another state or country. Current Virginia law, Section 20-45.2, already bans same-sex marriages so Delegates McClure's bill is an unnecessary piece of legal redundancy. Virginians for Justice believes that Delegates McClure and O'Brien are pandering to their radical right supporters who fear the effects of the Hawaii case. Legal scholars across the nation agree that the nationwide effects of the Hawaii case, should it come down on the side of "gay marriage", are still unknown. If Del. McClure wants to formulate Virginia laws on what MIGHT happen in other states, then the legislature will be even more bogged down than it already is. HB1189 would also set a dangerous precedent by recklessly choosing to ignore a particular aspect of interstate contract law. Even if the legislature should be homophobic enough to disapprove of gay and lesbian marriages, they should carefully consider any alteration of interstate contract law. **REQUESTED ACTION** Contact your DELEGATE and SENATOR immediately to ask for their opposition to HB1189. Please spread the word to Virginians across the Commonwealth! You may call your Delegate and Senator directly in Richmond, or call 1- 800-889-0229 to register your opposition to HB1189. If you do not know who your Delegate and Senator are, the operators at 1-800-889- 0229 can tell you or call your local voter registrar or Virginians for Justice (804-643-4816). -------------------- Virginians for Justice advances equal justice for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and those affected by the HIV epidemic, through the state's legislative, administrative and judicial systems.