The snow storm that swept through the south these last few days has delayed the marriage equality hearing in Virginia.
The Washington Blade reports:
Oral arguments in a federal lawsuit that challenges Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban that was scheduled to take place tomorrow has been postponed because of inclement weather. Judge Arenda L. Wright Allen of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia in Norfolk, Va., is expected to hear the case sometime next month.
In related news, new AG Mark herring explained his decision not to defend the ban.
Hampton Roads reports:
Switching his office’s posture on the case, Herring said, is “not about my personal view in support of marriage equality.” “That’s not my role as attorney general,” he said in an interview with The Virginian-Pilot from his Richmond office. “But, rather, the decision was based on the law and based on the obligations of the office.” Herring, who had planned to be in court for the hearing – now tentatively planned for sometime in February – contends that the state’s refusal to permit or recognize same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution’s equal-protection and due-process clauses.
Also in Virginia, one of the plaintiffs in the case shared his story.
AFER reports:
Originally London and Bostic were going to Maryland to get married. They told London’s lawyer, Robert Ruloff, about their plan. He had other ideas. “I said, ‘No you’re not. You’re going to get married right here,’” remembered Ruloff, who is, for whatever it’s worth, a straight man from West Virginia. “‘We’ll fight it here. If you want to do it, let’s do it.’”
And finally, Virginia delegate Joseph Yost became the first HOP lawmaker in the state to support marriage equality.
The Washington Blade reports:
“As far as same-sex marriage goes, it does not bother me,” state Del. Joseph Yost (R-Giles County) told the Washington Blade during an interview at an Equality Virginia reception that took place at the Library of Virginia in downtown Richmond. “Why not?”… “It boils down to tradition; it’s just a generational gap,” said Yost. “I don’t think the government should be involved in marriage period — straight or gay. I feel like we have bigger things to worry about.”
One way or another, marriage equality will come soon t Virginia. Any word wham that rescheduled hearing will be?
Find more articles and gay wedding resources in Virginia.
