Marriage Equality Update!

Chief Justice John Roberts has agreed to allow the Supreme Court to decide whether or not a stay is justified in the Virginia same-sex marriage case. After the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of county clerk Michèle McQuigg to place a stay on its ruling that found Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional, her attorneys asked the Supreme Court to intervene.

Acknowledging the request, Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered information to be filed by Monday, August 18 at 5:00 pm. The Court could have granted the stay as requested, refused to grant the stay, or ignored the request and not responded. The Supreme Court has granted every stay request in a same-sex marriage case since its DOMA ruling last year.

This week, the Fourth Circuit confirmed that marriages in Virginia could begin next Thursday. That still holds, unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise – which is likely.

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Pride Season

“As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect — our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains.”

– President Obama’s proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride Month

LGBT Pride is in full swing across the Commonwealth, country and world! First, we wish to thank the Town of Herndon for proclaiming June as LGBT Pride Month. Linh Hoang, our Executive Vice Chair accepted the LGBT Pride Month Proclamation from the Town of Herndon on our behalf.

In the coming weeks, we will be sharing information at the following events:

August 23 – Hampton Roads Pride
September 6 – Equality Breakfast
September 13 – Charlottesville Pride
September 21 – Roanoke Pride
September 27 – Virginia Pride
October 1 – LGBT Forum in Chesterfield County

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Court Poised to Strike Down Marriage Ban

It appears that the Fourth District Court of Appeals are poised to strike down Virginia’s Constitutional ban on same sex marriage. The hour-long hearing inside the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals featured a lively back-and-forth between three judges and the attorneys representing both the same-sex couples who filed suit on behalf of a larger class of LGBT Virginians, as well as those representing a local county clerk who does not want to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

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