01-23-2014, 11:12 AM
VIRGINIA
![[Image: 09herringmcauliffeA1383412571.jpg]](http://www.washingtonpost.com/rf/image_606w/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2013/11/02/Others/Images/2013-11-02/09herringmcauliffeA1383412571.jpg)
^ This is Virginia's new State Attorney General, Mark Herring (Democrat).
He's gonna have a battle on his hands. Hoping he wins it.
Herring, in his new position, is essentially "switching" Virginia's stance on gay marriage. State officials and his predecessor, Ken Cuccinelli (Rep), support the state's ban on gay marriage. However, Herring is joining the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the ban; he opposes the ban on grounds that it's unconstitutional (he voted for the ban 8 years ago, but says his views have since evolved and changed).
Snip:
Virginia has been a particularly appealing place for a challenge by supporters of gay rights because of the Supreme Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws against interracial marriage. Those who support same-sex unions often draw a parallel.
Herring will make the same point, according to a person who has seen the brief he will file. The state will say that Loving upheld the fundamental right to marriage, not the right to interracial marriage. The question at stake now, the brief states, is not a right to same-sex marriage but whether the fundamental right to marriage can be denied to “loving couples based solely on their sexual orientation.”
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/v...story.html
The US Supreme Court ruled DOMA unconstitutional last year and extended Federal benefits to same sex couples married/living in a state where same sex marriage is legal. SCOTUS also denied support of California's ban on same sex marriage. The door is now wide open for gay marriage advocates to push for legalization in their states. There will probably be several more states legalizing gay marriage in 2014, IMO.
Currently, same sex marriage is legal in the District of Columbia and 17 U.S. states.
^ This is Virginia's new State Attorney General, Mark Herring (Democrat).
He's gonna have a battle on his hands. Hoping he wins it.
Herring, in his new position, is essentially "switching" Virginia's stance on gay marriage. State officials and his predecessor, Ken Cuccinelli (Rep), support the state's ban on gay marriage. However, Herring is joining the plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the ban; he opposes the ban on grounds that it's unconstitutional (he voted for the ban 8 years ago, but says his views have since evolved and changed).
Snip:
Virginia has been a particularly appealing place for a challenge by supporters of gay rights because of the Supreme Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia, which struck down laws against interracial marriage. Those who support same-sex unions often draw a parallel.
Herring will make the same point, according to a person who has seen the brief he will file. The state will say that Loving upheld the fundamental right to marriage, not the right to interracial marriage. The question at stake now, the brief states, is not a right to same-sex marriage but whether the fundamental right to marriage can be denied to “loving couples based solely on their sexual orientation.”
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/v...story.html
The US Supreme Court ruled DOMA unconstitutional last year and extended Federal benefits to same sex couples married/living in a state where same sex marriage is legal. SCOTUS also denied support of California's ban on same sex marriage. The door is now wide open for gay marriage advocates to push for legalization in their states. There will probably be several more states legalizing gay marriage in 2014, IMO.
Currently, same sex marriage is legal in the District of Columbia and 17 U.S. states.