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Judge rules Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional
WTVR6 ^ | February 13, 2014 | Alix Bryan

Posted on 02/13/2014 8:14:49 PM PST by cutofyourjib

NORFOLK, Va. (WTVR) – A federal judge declared late Thursday night that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, confirmed Michael Kelly, Director of Communications for Attorney General Mark Herring.

The update was first made on Herring’s Facebook page and his Twitter account.

MT “@AGMarkHerring: *ALERT* Federal judge declares state's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Issues stay pending appeal.”— Mark Herring (@MarkHerringVA) February 14, 2014

“Equality in Virginia took a big step forward tonight as a federal district judge declared Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional,” Herring wrote.

“The judge issued a stay with her injunction pending appeal, meaning marriage licenses will not yet be issued to same-sex couples, but today is a great day for those who want to see all Virginians treated equally regardless of who they love.”

That ruling can be read in full here: http://legaltimes.typepad.com/files/edva-ssm-opinion.pdf

A lawsuit challenging the commonwealth’s ban on same-sex marriage went before U.S. District Judge ­Arenda L. Wright Allen on February 4, in Norfolk.

The case of Bostic vs. Rainey argued that the Virginia Marriage Amendment, passed in 2006 by 57 percent of voters, is unconstitutional.

Tim Bostic and Tony London are the Norfolk couple who applied for a marriage license last year and were denied.

Since then they have gain the support of Virginia’s top brass behind them. State Attorney General Mark Herring and Governor Terry McAuliffe, both Democrats, have said they won’t defend the state’s constitutional ban.

Herring’s office issued a statement a couple of weeks ago saying they hope it “will be a landmark ruling in Virginia on one of the most important civil rights issues of our time.”

An excerpt from the judge’s conclusion reads:

“ The Court is compelled to conclude that Virginia’s Marriage Laws unconstitutionally deny Virginia’s gay and lesbian citizens the fundamental freedom to choose to marry.

Government interests in perpetuating traditions, shielding state matters from federal interference, and favoring one model of parenting over others must yield to this country’s cherished protections that ensure the exercise of the private choices of the individual citizen regarding love and family.”

Organizations that have worked towards marriage equality in the Commonwealth for years, like Equality Virginia, said that the ruling is historic.

“The ruling finally puts Virginia on the path toward allowing lesbian and gay couples to marry the person they love here in the place they call home,” James Parish, executive director for Equality Virginia said.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Culture/Society; Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: homosexual; homosexualagenda; judicialactivism; marriage; va
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To: cutofyourjib

61 posted on 02/14/2014 6:00:50 AM PST by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: bk1000
Any man is free to marry any woman that will have him, and vice versa.

Bingo! Exactly right. This needs to be shouted high and low. There is NO discrimination.

62 posted on 02/14/2014 6:34:56 AM PST by JustSurrounded
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To: JustSurrounded
Any man is free to marry any woman that will have him, and vice versa. Bingo! Exactly right. This needs to be shouted high and low. There is NO discrimination.

A little more clarification is needed to that original response - you can only marry one woman at a time.
63 posted on 02/14/2014 6:43:24 AM PST by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: digger48

It won’t matter. They will find the amendment to your state constitution federally unconstitutional. They have already done it elsewhere.

There is no way out. This is leftist tyranny. We let them stack the judgeships for years, and now they are overwhelming the people.

Notice that they do this soon after they win the Governorship and AG. They govern against the will of the people, because they know that they can get away with it. Just like Obama.

Elections have consequences. But more fundamentally, rampant, unrepentant, rebellion against God has consequences.


64 posted on 02/14/2014 6:43:37 AM PST by ecomcon
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To: fwdude

It still has to be approved by a panel. She just put a stay on it.


65 posted on 02/14/2014 6:44:10 AM PST by Carry me back
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To: Organic Panic

Its only constitutional when they win. They havent won yet.


66 posted on 02/14/2014 6:45:45 AM PST by Carry me back
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To: cutofyourjib

We have not had a republic for some time.

But here is the point that I think everyone is missing. Homosexuals have the same right to marry someone of the opposite sex as heterosexuals.

How can this be a “denial” of equal protection?


67 posted on 02/14/2014 6:47:15 AM PST by Captain Jack Aubrey (There's not a moment to lose.)
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To: deks

Thus we see the fruit of Relativism. 100% anti law. 100% perfect for dictatorships.


68 posted on 02/14/2014 6:49:45 AM PST by ecomcon
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To: deks

Monster


69 posted on 02/14/2014 6:50:35 AM PST by ecomcon
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To: HokieMom

Agree.

I now fully believe that this nation is under God’s judgement, or at least that He has turned His face away from us. According to the Bible, when He does this, He turns the people over to rampant homosexuality.


70 posted on 02/14/2014 6:50:36 AM PST by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males----the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
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To: cutofyourjib

The gifts of Mitt Romney following the decision of the Massachusetts State Supreme Court seem to never end.


71 posted on 02/14/2014 6:57:58 AM PST by kingu (Everything starts with slashing the size and scope of the federal government.)
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To: cutofyourjib

If we all pray for Ted Kennedy, things will get much better.


72 posted on 02/14/2014 7:08:32 AM PST by Doctor 2Brains
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To: cutofyourjib

The folks that voted Democrat since the late 60`s are responsible and have blood on their hands.

We know how this ends baring intervention from God, He would have to change the hearts of several of the evil Democrats on Supreme Court

Outside of that, we need to take back the power we wrongly gave to the court to rule over us, was never intended for the high court to have this much power

Perhaps Mark Levin and Jay Sekulow should run for President with this agenda


73 posted on 02/14/2014 7:47:14 AM PST by Friendofgeorge (Sarah Palin 2016 OR BUST)
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To: deks

?Wow! What is that thing?


74 posted on 02/14/2014 8:33:47 AM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: cutofyourjib

Nope. Progressives never stop their assault on our way of life.


75 posted on 02/14/2014 8:51:05 AM PST by b4its2late (A Progressive is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: Neoliberalnot

If Obama had a daughter that old, she’d look just like that.


76 posted on 02/14/2014 8:52:33 AM PST by b4its2late (A Progressive is a person who will give away everything he doesn't own.)
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To: digger48

The court didn’t strike down a law in VA. They struck down an amendment to our state Constitution that was passed with a very large margin.


77 posted on 02/14/2014 9:00:52 AM PST by pgkdan
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To: Oliviaforever

Bullshit! Virginia voted overwhelmingly to enact a constitutional amendment protecting marriage.


78 posted on 02/14/2014 9:03:26 AM PST by pgkdan
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To: cutofyourjib

this is all based on the illiterates of the legal profession buying the myth of “born that way”.

These judges (particularly female lawyers and judges) have this unscientific worldview of behavior is born that way.

In another time they would advocate for the physical flat earth, geo-centric universe, and dead people are innocent of witchcraft.

The legal profession, and judges, are a joke because ANYONE and I do mean ANYONE, with a four year degree can go to law school and sit for the bar exam.


79 posted on 02/14/2014 9:12:00 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: cutofyourjib

Will this ever stop?

NO it will not until government is out of the marriage business. Stop issuing marriage licenses and start issuing civil contracts. Marriage should be the business of religion and pastors only.


80 posted on 02/14/2014 9:20:29 AM PST by WilliamRobert (Obama so loves the poor he created millions more.)
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