Post by Logan on Mar 12, 2016 0:36:20 GMT -6
House passes bill to protect religious objections to gay marriage
Legislation to protect religious groups from government-imposed penalties over their views on same-sex marriage passed the House of Delegates on Wednesday on a 59-38 vote.
Senate Bill 41, which also would prevent marriage officiants from being required to participate in a wedding ceremony, passed the Senate last month on a 20-19 vote. The legislation appears to be headed to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s desk, though the chambers still have to reach agreement on the bill’s final form.
Following the nationwide legalization of gay marriage, the Republican-controlled legislature introduced several bills this session that supporters said would prevent traditional religious beliefs from being drummed out of the public sphere. Critics have called the bills unconstitutional, arguing they codify discrimination against gay Virginians.
McAuliffe, a vocal supporter of gay rights and the LGBT community, has said he will oppose any legislation that makes Virginia less open and welcoming.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_7367d73f-fffb-546c-b7c7-77f7b5dbccdb.html
Legislation to protect religious groups from government-imposed penalties over their views on same-sex marriage passed the House of Delegates on Wednesday on a 59-38 vote.
Senate Bill 41, which also would prevent marriage officiants from being required to participate in a wedding ceremony, passed the Senate last month on a 20-19 vote. The legislation appears to be headed to Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s desk, though the chambers still have to reach agreement on the bill’s final form.
Following the nationwide legalization of gay marriage, the Republican-controlled legislature introduced several bills this session that supporters said would prevent traditional religious beliefs from being drummed out of the public sphere. Critics have called the bills unconstitutional, arguing they codify discrimination against gay Virginians.
McAuliffe, a vocal supporter of gay rights and the LGBT community, has said he will oppose any legislation that makes Virginia less open and welcoming.
Read more: www.richmond.com/news/virginia/government-politics/article_7367d73f-fffb-546c-b7c7-77f7b5dbccdb.html