PRESS RELEASES
RELEASE: MARRIAGE EQUALITY LEGISLATION INTRODUCED IN VIRGINIA
Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria) and Delegate Mark Sickles (D-Fairfax) have introduced Senate Joint Resolution 11 and House Joint Resolution 9, proposed amendments to Virginia’s Constitution to repeal the discriminatory ban on marriage equality and enshrine an affirmative right to marriage for consenting Virginia couples.
Ebbin and Delegate-elect Rozia A. Henson, Jr. (D-Prince William) separately introduced House Bill 174 and Senate Bill 101 to guarantee the issuance of marriage licenses without regard to sex, gender or race of the two adults seeking to enter into a marriage.
"The General Assembly should advance SJR11 expeditiously so that Virginia voters can finally remove this discriminatory stain on our foundational document once and for all," said Senator Ebbin.
"Virginians want a chance to remove the noxious marriage language that was added to our constitution in 2006. Over the years, minds have changed and over 1.8 million voters have come of age--this is not the constitution they want," said Delegate Mark Sickles.
"Passing SJR11 and HJ9 is the first step in a multi-year process, which will culminate in a statewide referendum in the fall of 2026," said Delegate-elect Rozia A. Henson, Jr. (D-Prince William). "That is why Senator Ebbin and I have also introduced legislation to codify marriage equality in Virginia’s Code - not just its Constitution - so that marriage equality is protected under Virginia law beginning July 1, 2024."
RELEASE: ADAM EBBIN STATEMENT ON NOVEMBER 7, 2023 ELECTION RESULTS
"Despite breaking spending records, Governor Youngkin was just served the biggest political rejection by voters of any Virginia governor in over three decades. Virginians sent Youngkin a message loud and clear tonight. In spite of his unprecedented campaign spending -- and attempts to deny the right to vote to thousands in the run up to this election -- his campaign to divide Virginia failed," said Senator Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria).
"Virginians don't want the government banning books, and interfering with their personal freedoms -- whether it's their reproductive rights, the right to breathe clean air, the safety of our communities from gun violence, or the sanctity of our democracy. Democrats remain ready to work across the aisle to find bipartisan solutions for the betterment of the Commonwealth."