Richmond, Virginia—A group of Senators who sit on the Senate Privileges and Elections Committee voted this afternoon to pass SJ242, sponsored by Senator Adam Ebbin. This constitutional amendment would repeal the referendum that was passed in 2006 limiting marriage to one man and one woman. It’s high time we corrected that bigoted mistake, and we’re thrilled Senators have taken the first step toward making that a reality. 

“Love is love, and consenting adults should be allowed to marry whoever they like. Period,” LaTwyla Mathias, Executive Director of Progress Virginia, said. “We’re grateful that Senators on the subcommittee have come together to repeal the referendum prohibiting equal marriage and bringing Virginia in line with federal policy. 

Background: 

The resolution will now be voted on by the full Senate. 

The referendum that passed a constitutional amendment limiting marriage to one and one woman passed in 2006 by a margin of 57%-42%. 

In 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States released its decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which granted same-sex couples the right to marry, rendering the Virginia constitutional amendment useless. In December 2022, President Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which further cemented the legality of same-sex marriage in all 50 states.