Gov. Terry McAullife Orders Virginia Agencies to Recognize Same Sex Marriage

Elections do make a difference as demonstrated by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring who refused to defend an unconstitutional law/constitutional amendment and now Governor Terry McAullife who has ordered Virginia's governmental agencies to comply with the order of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and recognize same sex married couples.  In contrast, we see Republican elected officials vowing to ignore the 4th Circuit's ruling until they are forced to do so.  The Richmond Times Dispatch reports on McAullife's action today.  Here are highlights:

Gov. Terry McAuliffe today signed an executive order that directs state agencies to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court's action that legalized same-sex marriage in Virginia.

The governor signed  Executive Order No. 30 directing all Virginia state agencies, authorities, commissions and other entities to make the necessary policy changes to comply.

The ruling immediately ended court-imposed delays on same-sex marriage in Virginia, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah and Wisconsin.  It is also likely to result in expanding same-sex marriage to six other states, Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, West Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.
Adding those states would mean same-sex marriage is now legal in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

McAuliffe says in the executive order:

"The highest priority of state government should be to guarantee every person’s right to live, learn, work, and do business, regardless of their race, gender, creed or sexual orientation. This principle guided my first act as governor when I signed Executive Order #1 banning discrimination in the state workplace based on sexual orientation or gender identity.

"This principle also guided the Virginia leaders, advocates and allies who fought for marriage equality and won when the Supreme Court declined to review the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ ruling in Bostic v. Schaefer. Same-sex marriage is now legal in Virginia. This is a historic and long overdue moment for our commonwealth and our country.

McAuliffe adds:

"On issues ranging from recognizing same-sex marriages to extending health care benefits to same-sex spouses of state employees, state government is already well-prepared to implement this landmark decision. My administration will act quickly to continue to bring all of our policies and practices into compliance so that we can give married same-sex couples the full array of benefits they deserve.

Pursuant to the authority vested in me as the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth, and pursuant to Article V of the Constitution and the laws of Virginia, I hereby order, effective immediately, that all entities in the executive branch, including agencies, authorities, commissions, departments, and all institutions of higher education further evaluate all policies and take all necessary and appropriate legal measures to comply with this decision."

McAuliffe also says the director of the Department of Human Resource Management shall notify all state agencies that employees whose same-sex marriage is recognized as legal in the commonwealth, and who are eligible, may enroll their spouse and eligible dependents in the health benefits program for state employees within 60 days of marriage.