House of Delegates Kills Gay Marriage Ban Repeal Without Hearing

Some things never change: the Virginia GOP's anti-gay extremism and cowardice.  Delegate Mark Cole, chairman of the House of Delegates Privileges and Elections Committee announced that there would be no hearings or action on any constitutional amendments this legislative session.  By doing so, the Virginia GOP prostituted itself to The Family Foundation and GOP members of the House of Delegates avoided having to vote on a measure to repeal the Marshall-Newman Amendment which would have underscored how increasingly out of step they are with the views of a majority of Virginians and the 21st century for that matter.  Blue Virginia has details.  Here are excerpts:

The more things change, the more they stay the same...at least when it comes to Virginia Republicans and homophobia (or pandering to the homophobes in their grassroots ranks).

On Wednesday, January 9, 2014, Chairman Delegate Mark Cole announced that the Privileges and Elections Committee would not be hearing any constitutional amendments this session – instead waiting until next session. 

“Virginia Republican’s refusal to even consider same-sex marriage is backwards and proving increasingly archaic,” said Delegate Surovell.  “Marriage is about loving, committed couples who want to make a lifelong promise to take care of and be responsible for each other, in good times and bad.

 “Virginians are ready to repeal the Marshall-Newman amendment,” said Senator Ebbin. “This unfair and discriminatory law denies loving couples the chance to build a life together, throwing up burdens that straight couples never have to face. People deserve to be judged by their actions, and laws that deny people fundamental rights because of their sexual orientation should have no place in Virginia. We have lost and will continue to lose hard-working citizens to other states.”

In 2013, the Washington Post reported that 58% of Americans supported same-sex marriage while 36% opposed it. In 2012, PPP found that 65% of Virginians supported some type of recognition of same-sex couples.

As I have said before, the Virginia GOP is now the party of homophobes, racists and Neanderthals.