Virginia hops on the anti-gay bandwagon.

Crazy sonofabitch Delegate Bob Marshall (R-Manassas) has gotten a bill signed into law today, after it was supported by the House and the Senate by veto-proof margins, the AP reports. House bill 751 adds §20-45.3 to the Code of Virginia, and reads:

A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited. Any such civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created thereby shall be void and unenforceable.

Ignoring the fact that it’s just nasty, it’s overly vague. One privilege of marriage is that an individual may make decisions on behalf of their spouse in medical matters. Is that now outlawed? Spouses may open joint checking accounts. Is that now illegal?

In an effort to clear this up, Del. Brian Moran (D-Alexandria) asked Del. Marshall repeatedly to please explain what, exactly, the privileges of marriage are, what which types contracts that he intended to outlaw. Marshall replied: “I am not accountable for the gentleman’s lack of enlightenment or understanding.” (Translation: Marshall has no clue. He just hates gays.) And in response to Governor Mark Warner‘s objection that the bill is simply hateful, Marshall replied: ”Homosexuals were not brought to the United States in slave ships. They were not denied the franchise. They did not have to go to separate water fountains. They were not segregated into schools.”

Thankfully, my representatives — Sen. John Edwards (D-Roanoke), Sen. Creigh Deeds (D-Bath), Del. Mitch Van Yahres (D-Charlottesville), and Del. Jim Shuler (D-Alleghany) — all voted against this bill. Not that it did any good, but it tells me that my letter-writing wasn’t for nothing.

What’s next is, of course, a lawsuit, an event to which I look forward. In the meantime, I take some satisfaction in knowing that googling for “Delegate Bob Marshall” brings up my site prominently.

Published by Waldo Jaquith

Waldo Jaquith (JAKE-with) is an open government technologist who lives near Char­lottes­­ville, VA, USA. more »