The Associated Press reports that a panel of the GOP-controlled House of Delegates will be determining the wording of literature that the Commonwealth will disburse to Virginia voters on the gay marriage ban initiative. Virginia voters will decide on the measure this fall.
Gay rights groups complained after virulently anti-gay Attorney General Bob McDonnell inserted a paragraph into the literature that describes how the amendment will not target relationships, unless they mimic marriage. To me, this is a transparent attempt by the Commonwealth to mitigate the concerns of suburban moderates, particularly those in Northern Virginia, who may oppose marriage equality but also oppose naked homophobia. That's all fine and well from those campaigning against marriage quality, but it is not the Commonwealth's job to do their bidding.
The House's corresponding Senate committee already examined the proposed addition to the language, but passed on taking any action. The Senate, while also GOP-controlled, is markedly more moderate than the House.
Two ancillary issues popped up here to me: the importance of voting and the absurdity of the hysterical campaign against marriage equality.
As a legislator, Bob McDonnell helped scuttle the reappointment of a Virginia judge rumored to be a lesbian. In responding to rebuttals to his attacks on her for possibly violating Virginia's sodomy laws, he famously said that he couldn't remember if he had ever engaged in sodomy himself. Mr. McDonnell was elected Attorney General after a prolonged recount. The ultimate margin of victory was 323 votes, a difference of one-hundredth of one percent. If some 400 more Democrats had made it to the polls, perhaps this assault on equality would not be succeeding.
As for their hysterics, last night my fiancee and I were registering for our own wedding. As we waded through the dishware, linens, housewares, and other crap at a major retailer, at no time did I feel our pending nuptials were under assault by same-sex couples. I would love to meet one person going through a similar process right now who starts to waver upon learning that he could, in fact, marry someone of his own gender. When unfounded fear guides leaders and voters away from basic equality, we all lose.