"Virginia Is For Lovers. Some Restrictions Apply."
That's the revise on the state of Virginia motto that gay activists are toying with, thanks to a new law prohibiting civil unions:
The new law is an amendment to the state's 1997 Affirmation of Marriage Act, which prohibits gay marriages. The amendment extends that ban to civil unions, partnership contracts and other "arrangements between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage."Some legal experts say the law is so vague it could interfere with powers of attorney, wills, medical directives, child custody, property arrangements and joint bank accounts.
Will the last lesbian out of Virginia, please turn out the lights? And any person who isn't gay, but who is for fairness and equal rights for all people, should treat the entire state like country club that doesn't admit Jews or blacks. The same goes for any state or place with bigoted, rights-denying policies based on religious nonsense. (Uh-oh...let's just hope our fundamentalist-in-chief doesn't get his way with that constitutional amendment!)
(via Reason's blog)
The California Supreme Court made a very strong argument against the gay/lesbian marriages that were officiated a few months ago in San Francisco. The problem is that the SF mayor's decision to disregard state law may set a precedent for other mayors to go their own way on issues such as gun control, school segregation, etc. Although I think us homos should be allowed to marry, the court made a good point here.
Lena at May 26, 2004 10:54 AM
I think Newsom made a huge mistake in SF. The way to do this was not to break the law but to challenge this in court. Likewise, for other prohibitions in our society which seem unconstitutional -- for example, why can't you put whatever mind-altering substance you want into your body? And why is prostitution illegal? It's your body -- why can't you sell it if you so desire? And moreover, why is it legal for George Bush to prohibit stem cell research because he's a fundamentalist?
Amy Alkon at May 26, 2004 12:01 PM
Virginia??? Virginia??? Virginia, of all places, wants a ban to prohibit same sex unions??? I guess that means that all sexual relations with farm animals or blood relatives must be of the opposite gender!
Patrick at May 28, 2004 8:23 PM