Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Contact: Bonnie Parker 703-228-3882 (voice) 703-228-4743(TTY)
Arlington County Board Opposes So-Called "Marriage Amendment"
Board Adopts Resolution on Ballot Question
ARLINGTON, Va – The Arlington County Board last night voted to oppose a proposed amendment to Virginia's Bill of Rights, saying that although the amendment is being sold as a simple prohibition on gay marriage, it in fact goes much further. The proposed amendment would prohibit a range of benefits for all unmarried couples -- straight and gay -- and the broad and confusing language may have "unintended and unpredictable legal consequences."
The Board adopted a resolution encouraging Arlington citizens to vote "NO" on the proposed amendment, which appears as Question #1 on the November ballot.
The resolution notes that “Arlington County is committed to protecting the rights of all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, or marital status.”
Resolution states amendment could hurt Virginia's economy
Noting that the proposed amendment's language "encompasses civil unions and domestic partnerships," the resolution states that it "could have the effect of discouraging high-value workers and businesses from locating” in Virginia and Arlington, “thus putting us at a competitive disadvantage relative to DC, Maryland and many other states where no such impediments now exist.”
Language of the proposed amendment “goes far beyond the constitutional proposals enacted in any other state,” according to the resolution, and “makes significant and substantial changes in current Virginia law by extending the prohibition on relationship recognition to all ‘unmarried individuals’ and may have other unintended and unpredictable legal consequences.”
The resolution states that the proposed amendment would “in effect, create a Constitutional bar to any legal recognition of unmarried relationships for both same- and different-ex couples, including a permanent prohibition on the ability of County government and the School system to offer benefits – such as health insurance – to unmarried employees that would be equal to those offered to married employees.”
To read the full text of the resolution, visit the Arlington County Web site.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.
