As part of its legislative agenda, the West Virginia House GOP members announced that they will be fighting to give West Virginians the right to vote on a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between one man and one woman.
-- From "West Virginia GOP looks to define marriage" by The Associated Press 1/14/11
In a release sent out by Republican minority leader Tim Armstead, House Republicans call for the strengthening of West Virginia's Defense for Marriage statute to prevent it from being overturned by a Supreme Court.
Delegate Rick Snuffer, R-Raleigh, said the people of West Virginia should be allowed to vote on the amendment and decide for themselves if "one man, one woman," marriage should be the definition in the state's constitution.
Snuffer, a freshman delegate, said the Legislature needs to act proactively before a decision elsewhere forces lawmakers to make a decision on the issue. According to information provided at the press conference by Republican officials, the state Supreme Court of Appeals voted 3-2 to not hear a prior challenge to current law by homosexual couples.
Republican officials in West Virginia say West Virginians overwhelmingly support traditional definitions of marriage as one man and one woman.
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From "Marriage Amendment Introduced at Capitol" posted at West Virginia MetroNews 1/14/11
For the sixth consecutive year, the state legislature will consider a constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
The amendment as follows: "Only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this state and its political subdivisions. This state and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for same-sex relationships to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities or effects of marriage.”
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From "Boley, Nohe co-sponsor gay marriage ban" by Brett Dunlap, Parkersburg News 1/14/11
Sen. Donna Boley, R-Pleasants, and Sen. David Nohe, R-Wood, were co-sponsors of the Senate version of the amendment.
"The people of West Virginia have always been conservative," she said. "It is just the way it is here. So far, I have not received any opposition to it."
West Virginia Family Foundation President Kevin McCoy said . . . "The amendment will also preserve the unique legal benefits that are provided for this sacred institution and prohibit counterfeit relationships such as homosexual 'civil unions' and 'domestic partner benefits,' which are homosexual 'marriage' by another name."
McCoy noted the state Supreme Court of Appeals has established "sexual orientation" as a "protected class" in its Code of Judicial Conduct Canon. Three other state supreme courts - California, Iowa and Massachusetts - each cited their state's adoption of identical policies as validating their rulings declaring same-sex marriage a constitutional right.
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