Bill Text: VA HJR539 | 2021 | Regular Session | Prefiled
Bill Title: Constitutional amendment; removes same-sex marriage prohibition.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 55-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-03 - Incorporated by Privileges and Elections [HJR539 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2021-HJR539-Prefiled.html
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:
Amend Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia as follows:
Section 15-A. Marriage.
That only a union between
one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this
Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for
relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design,
qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or
its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or
other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations,
qualities, or effects of marriage and its
agents shall issue marriage licenses, recognize marriages, and treat all
marriages equally under the law,
regardless of the gender of the two parties to the marriage. Religious
organizations and clergy acting in their religious capacity
shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.
