Virginia's so-called "Marriage Amendment," (on November 7th ballot) like race laws of the past, if enacted, would deny people their constitutional rights. It seems that if married people didn't know that marriage was between a man and a woman many, if not most of them, would be married to same sex partners. No constitutional amendment is needed to let people know the obvious.

Columnist Bob Gibson debunks the Virginia "marriage amendment" that is on the November 7th ballot. Under the caption, "Virginia risks damaging civil rights," (The Daily Progress," Oct. 29) he states that prior to 1967 when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Virginia civil rights case, "Loving v. Virginia," the biracial parents of U. S. Senator Barack Obama, esteemed golfer Tiger Woods and most valuable player pedigree Pittsburgh Steeler Hines Ward could not have married in Virginia.
Gibson also states that Beth Ryan and Jennifer O'Flaherty, a lesbian couple, both parents, decided to leave Virginia because of the difficulties they had in trying to get health insurance through one of their jobs because their son is the biological son of O'Flaherty and their two daughters were born to Ryan. Ryan was a LexisNexis editor and director of market planning and for 12 years O'Flaherty, was a physician at the University of Virginia. Now living in Vermont their "coupling rights" are protected similarly as married couples.
The Obama-Woods-Ward and Ryan-O'Flaherty scenarios are proof positive, no further evidence needed, to show that laws denying people their civil rights are indefensible. They are not only unjust but drain society of admirableness and excellence. Society needs the Obamas, Woodses, Wards, Ryans and O'Flahterties.
If enacted the so-called "marriage amendment" willl adversely affect married and unmarried people in Virginia. As a clergyman who has solominized marriages I value marriage and all loving relationshps. This "marriage amendment" reminds me of the black codes and segregation laws enacted in the South to deny African Americans justice which I experienced until I enlisted in the United States Army just prior to the start of the Korean War. I will not tell you how to vote but I urge you to read Bob Gibson's column before you vote on November 7th.

(Note: A number of States other than Virginia have either enacted or in the process of enacting a similar law aimed at, among other things, denying homosexual, lesbians and just couples who may be of the same sex but not engaged in a sexual relationship civil rights.)

Copyright 2006 by Uriah J. Fields