This is why I love this community. A diligent ally has uploaded video clips of some of the great floor speeches against the Marshall/Newman amendment – now you don’t have to have been camped out in Richmond to see this debacle for what it was. Did you know that, over a two year process, our elected representatives only spent a total of about 1 hour, 45 minutes discussing the actual language that will be on the ballot November 7th? Careful “bipartisan consideration” indeed. Is it any wonder that some who were bullied into voting for this obscenity are now speaking out against it?
Lest we forget, we do have principled, courageous legislators who will stand up for genuine moral values and for our constitution.
Delegate Brian Moran says the House rushed into adopting this flawed language, which will have adverse unintended consequences for heterosexual couples.
Delegate Vivian Watts explains some of the possible consequences and offers language (“Savings Clause”) that would protect the ordinary rights of unmarried people. This language, of course, was rejected.
Delegate Mark Sickles asks: What Virginia activist judges?
Delegate Viola Baskerville says that religions are free to define marriage, and that we should not enshrine discrimination in the VA constitution.
Delegate Adam Ebbin (2005 session) says amendment supporters are on the wrong side of history.
Delegate Adam Ebbin (2006 session) speaks out again on the injustice of the amendment.
Freshman Delegate David Englin gives a passionate speech opposing this mean-spirited attack on the GLBT community and unmarried couples.
The entire playlist in order
Thanks, Ray.
Oooh, thanks for posting this! It’s great to have all of these amazing speeches in one place for people to sit and watch all at once. 🙂