By Gudrun Schultz
RICHMOND, Virginia, April 11, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Governor Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia refused to sign a proposed constitutional amendment yesterday that would ban same-sex marriage in the state, and said he will vote against the bill when it comes before Virginians in November.
Although Gov. Kaine said he opposed same-sex marriage, he said the proposed bill could have consequences for all unmarried couples, heterosexual as well as homosexual, the Washington Post reported today.
The Virginia state constitution already identifies marriage as between a man and a woman, but supporters of the amendment say the law needs to be clarified to ensure Virginia is not compelled to recognize civil unions or gay couples “married” out of state.
Kaine said the wording in the amendment could be interpreted to include unmarried heterosexual couples, where it reads the Virginia Constitution should not recognize “another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”
In a statement, Kaine said he was concerned about “the broad wording of the proposed constitutional amendment,” saying that it threatens “the constitutional rights of individuals to enter into private contracts, and also…the discretion of employers to extend certain benefits such as health care coverage, to unmarried couples.”
“For those reasons, I will vote against the marriage amendment in November, and I urge other Virginians to vote against it as well.”
He also said that he believes marriage is between one man and one woman.
At least six states will ask citizens to vote on constitutional amendments to protect traditional marriage this fall, and more are debating the issue.
See related LifeSiteNews articles:
Constitutional Amendment to Ban Same-Sex “Marriage” Approved in Alabama
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/feb/05020902.html
Kansas Voters Approve Constitutional Amendment Banning Homosexual “Marriage”
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/apr/05040702.html