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geminigirlI'm not sure how closely other people have been following the path of HB 751 in Virginia, but earlier this year, this bill, which effectively invalidates all legal agreements like living wills, custody agreements and wills between two people of the same sex. [1]
If I've learned one thing from being engaged (and it's not like I didn't know this before, but lets pretend here for a minute) it's that letting people who love each other get married doesn't make my relationship any less valid.
The law goes into effect on July 1, 2004. In addition to the usual calling your representatives to tell them what you think, here's something else you can do...
Virginians Stand Up for Equality is sponsoring rallies and town hall meetings all across Virginia on Wednesday, June 30th to draw attention to and educate the public about the “Affirmation of Marriage Act” which goes into effect on July 1. The VSUE is a coalition of 80 national, state and local organizations, religious congregations, and businesses opposed to the outrageously restrictive act which would severely restrict the rights of gays and lesbians to contract with one another regarding issues of medical power of attorney, wills, family plans, etc. It is widely recognized as the most homophobic bill to pass in the United States in the so-called defense of marriage actions. It will deeply affect the lives of many of our clients, our friends in the community and many of our staff members. It is creating all kinds of reactions from group boycotts of Virginia to individuals finally giving up and moving to DC or Maryland.
I invite each of you to the following and show your support by attending this Northern Virginia rally:
Wednesday, June 30th
Fairfax County Govt. Center
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
5:30 Activities begin; 6:00 rally
Spread the word to all of your friends in your email list!
More information and commentary about HB 751 (The Affirmation of Marriage Act) can be found at:
http://www.rightrainbow.com/archives/000455.html
http://equalityvirginia.org/news/news_014.html
http://virginiaisforhaters.org/
[1] A lot of people look at this and ask, "What about, say two heterosexual men who have a living will where one is the health care proxy for another...apparently no one thought of that situation. So if you're not gay and thinking that this doesn't affect you cause you're not queer, the answer is sorry, no, it still does.
If I've learned one thing from being engaged (and it's not like I didn't know this before, but lets pretend here for a minute) it's that letting people who love each other get married doesn't make my relationship any less valid.
The law goes into effect on July 1, 2004. In addition to the usual calling your representatives to tell them what you think, here's something else you can do...
Virginians Stand Up for Equality is sponsoring rallies and town hall meetings all across Virginia on Wednesday, June 30th to draw attention to and educate the public about the “Affirmation of Marriage Act” which goes into effect on July 1. The VSUE is a coalition of 80 national, state and local organizations, religious congregations, and businesses opposed to the outrageously restrictive act which would severely restrict the rights of gays and lesbians to contract with one another regarding issues of medical power of attorney, wills, family plans, etc. It is widely recognized as the most homophobic bill to pass in the United States in the so-called defense of marriage actions. It will deeply affect the lives of many of our clients, our friends in the community and many of our staff members. It is creating all kinds of reactions from group boycotts of Virginia to individuals finally giving up and moving to DC or Maryland.
I invite each of you to the following and show your support by attending this Northern Virginia rally:
Wednesday, June 30th
Fairfax County Govt. Center
12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax
5:30 Activities begin; 6:00 rally
Spread the word to all of your friends in your email list!
More information and commentary about HB 751 (The Affirmation of Marriage Act) can be found at:
http://www.rightrainbow.com/archives/000455.html
http://equalityvirginia.org/news/news_014.html
http://virginiaisforhaters.org/
[1] A lot of people look at this and ask, "What about, say two heterosexual men who have a living will where one is the health care proxy for another...apparently no one thought of that situation. So if you're not gay and thinking that this doesn't affect you cause you're not queer, the answer is sorry, no, it still does.
