Saturday, April 24, 2004
Yahoo! News - Virginia takes away gay partner rights
Lawmakers in Virginia passed a sweeping ban on same-sex partners on Wednesday that outlaws any "partnership contract or other arrangements that purport to provide the benefits of marriage."
Equality Virginia believes the Marriage Affirmation Act (HB 751) will likely bar same-sex couples in Virginia from obtaining a medical power of attorney, making custody decisions and carrying out estate planning directives.
The statewide GLBT organization also believes the new legislation will halt health insurance coverage through those companies in Virginia currently able to offer benefits to unmarried partners.
The bill is expected to become law July 1. Supporters of HB 751 earned two-thirds majorities in the House of Delegates and the Senate, thus protecting the bill from a gubernatorial veto.
Dyana Mason, executive director of Equality Virginia, promised to "challenge this law in every appropriate forum."
"In the courtroom, or in the General Assembly, we have no doubt that this law will quickly be found unconstitutional," Mason said in a statement. "We call on all fair-minded Virginians to send a strong message to their elected officials that this fight is far from over."
More lawsuits, more money, more time wasted...I foresee "gay states" in the near future; California, Oregon, New Jersey, Maryland, etc etc.- people will move there to escape discrimination in their own state, taking their business(es) with them. Eventually it will be costly to discriminate.