1. CONTROVERSIAL ARGUMENT
CATHY L. JACOBS
JUNE 3, 2014
SHIRLEY LYONS

2. CLAIM
 Fact: Union between one man and one woman
may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this
Commonwealth of Virginia. (Section 15-A).

3. SUPPORT
Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man
and one woman"; (ii) prohibits the Commonwealth and its political
subdivisions from creating or recognizing "a legal status for
relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate
the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage“ (Plum,
2006)

4. SUPPORT CONTINUED
 Prohibits the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions
from creating or recognizing "another union,
partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned
the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of
marriage’(Plum, 2006)

5. REASON
 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.

6. REASON - LEGISLATION
 Resolutions urging Congress to pass a federal
constitutional amendment banning same-sex
marriage passed both houses of the
Legislature (HJR 187, SJR 91).

7. LEGISLATION
 Both chambers of the Legislature have approved a
bill reaffirming that Virginia has no constitutional
or legal obligation to recognize marriages, civil
unions or domestic partnership contracts between
same-sex couples (HB 751).

8. SUMMARY
 Same sex marriage and Civil Unions are not recognized
by the Commonwealth of Virginia. § 20-45.3. Civil
unions between persons of same sex.
 It is illegal for politicians to change or alter the legal
status of the Constitution.

9. SUMMARY
 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
 Section 2 of DOMA allow states to refuse to
recognize valid civil marriages of same-sex couples
 It does it obligate any person, state, locality or
religious organization to celebrate or license a
marriage between two persons of the same sex

10. OPPOSING ARGUMENT
 Unconstitutional
 Violates: 14th Amendment
 Violates: Article 1 Commonwealth of Va. Bill of
Rights. Section 1: “Equality and Rights of of
men”(Constitution, p.1)

11. OVERVIEW AND EVIDENCES
 The state of Virginia has no legal right to
ban same sex marriages.
 DOMA no longer applies as a legal definition of
marriage.

12. SUMMARY AND REASON
Treat all men and women equally regardless of
sex, or gender.
Allow LGBT individuals the civil and equal rights
of marriage per the Bill of Rights and Constitution

13. Accept LGBT marriages equally as a part of society as
we would a marriage between man and woman.
Set aside personal biases and accept individuals for
who they are, not what we call them (Jacobs, 2014, p1)

14. REFERENCES
 Virginia.gov. (2014). Constitutional Amendments. Retrieved from http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-
bin/legp604.exe?141+sum+HJ67
 Constitution. (2014). Section 15A. Retrieved from http://constitution.legis.virginia.gov/
 William and Mary. (2014). Virginia Law. Retrieved from
http://wmpeople.wm.edu/index.php/site/page/lglawm/virginialaws
 Advocate.com (2014) Virginia Marriage Ban Unconstitutional. Retrieved from
http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/02/13/breaking-virginia-marriage-ban-
unconstitutional