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2005 SESSION

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050323276
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 586 Offered January 12, 2005 Prefiled January 5, 2005 Proposing an amendment to Article I of the Constitution of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15-A, relating to marriage. ----------
Patrons-- Cosgrove, Abbitt, Black, Carrico, Cline, Cole, Cox, Dudley, Fralin, Hugo, Ingram, Landes, Lingamfelter, Louderback, Marrs, Marshall, R.G., McDougle, Nixon, Nutter, Putney, Rapp, Reese, Saxman, Suit, Tata, Wardrup, Welch and Wright; Senator: Blevins
---------- Referred to Committee on Privileges and Elections ----------

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:

Amend Article I of the Constitution of Virginia by adding a section numbered 15-A as follows:

ARTICLE I BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 15-A. Marriage.

That marriage is essential to the liberty, happiness, and prosperity of a free and virtuous people and is the natural and optimal institution for uniting the two sexes in a committed, complementary, and conjugal partnership; for begetting posterity; and for providing children with the surest opportunity to be raised by their mother and father.

Marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman as husband and wife, and no other combination of persons may be licensed to marry or recognized as a marriage by the government. A civil union, domestic partnership, or similar civil arrangement that purports to bestow the rights, privileges, benefits, status, or obligations of marriage upon unmarried persons may not be created, recognized, or enforced by the government. A civil arrangement forbidden by this section shall be void and unenforceable even if lawful elsewhere.