Gay Lawmakers Look to Clean Up Marriage Language in Virginia Law

Two Virginia lawmakers -- both from Northern Virginia -- introduced legislation Monday that would strike unenforceable language in the state constitution and state law that prohibits same-sex marriage.

The U.S. Supreme Count ruled in 2015 that same-sex marriage is constitutional in every state. Lines in Virginia's constitution and state laws haven't caught up with the news.

Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax (shown above), and Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, both of whom are gay, more or less declared the articles and sections useless in light of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Said Sickles, in part, in a statement:

“I know it has been hard for Virginia to clear her Code of unconstitutional provisions in the past, but this is a great time to start. The Supreme Court has made it perfectly clear that marriage equality is the law of the land, (and) and nobody’s marriage is threatened by anyone else’s marriage.

"By continuing to allow antiquated language to remain in our Constitution and Code, we tell the world that only certain folks are welcome here in the Commonwealth and many are not fully equal under the law. We can change.”

Added Ebbin:

"Our legislation is in keeping with the Jeffersonian ideal that 'laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind.' "

Here's the language in question, with a h/t to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

Article I, Section 15-A of the state Constitution says 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."

Section 20-45.2 of the Code of Virginia says: "A marriage between persons of the same sex is prohibited."

Section 20-45.3 of the state code says: "A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited."