Equality Arlington calls on Governor Youngkin to sign HB174 to protect marriage equality and prevent discrimination

Governor Youngkin, 

We strongly urge you to sign House Bill (HB) 174 which protects marriage and prevents the commonwealth from discriminating in the issuance of marriage licenses on the basis of sex, gender, or race. Virginia has a troubled history of denying marriage licenses to marginalized residents including residents of color and LGBTQ+ residents. This bill is a historic opportunity to enshrine in law what the U.S. Supreme Court and Virginia courts have already found in Loving v. Virginia (1967), Bostic v. Schaefer (2014), and Obergefell v. Hodges (2015): that all people, regardless of the color of their skin or the gender of the person they love, are free to celebrate their love through state-sanctioned marriage. 

Over 15,000 Virginians with a same-sex spouse live in our commonwealth and 1 and 6 new marriages are interracial. This is progress to be celebrated and HB 174 codifies this freedom in state law. A future in which the commonwealth invalidates these marriages or refuses to issue new marriage licenses to interracial or same-sex couples would do significant personal and economic harm to these residents and their communities. The commonwealth has a strong interest in ensuring that residents who love each other can enter into the secure and legal framework of marriage. Virginia is stronger when our families have the legal protections and rights needed to prosper and openly celebrate their love. We hope we can count on you to support the right of all people who love each other to join together in marriage. 

Sincerely, 

Kellen MacBeth
President, Equality Arlington

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