Speaker Howell Responds to DOMA Decision

While many celebrated the Supreme Court's decisions Wednesday on same-sex marriage, others voiced their continued support for legal marriage to be only between one man and one woman.
 
"I am proud to support traditional marriage between one man and one woman," Virginia Speaker of the House William Howell (VA-R-28) said in an email to Patch.

"An overwhelming majority of Virginia voters have made that the law of the Commonwealth," he said. "While I am disappointed in the Court's decision on DOMA, I am pleased the Court has left the decision on marriage to the voters of each state."

The Supreme Court ruled June 26 the Defense of Marriage Act, which prevented the federal government from giving benefits to same-sex couples who married legally under state law, was unconstitutional.

In the same hour, the court also ruled it would not take up a case on Proposition 8, a same-sex marriage ban approved by California voters in 2008, deferring to a lower-court ruling that overturned the ban, the New York Times reported. The decision means same-sex couples will likely be able to marry again in the state.

In 2006, Virginians voted to amend the state constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. In the 2013 session, a group of 22 Virginia delegates, all Democrats, rallied to repeal that amendment, but failed.

Attorney General and Republican candidate for Governor Ken Cuccinelli said Wednesday he "has always believed that marriage should be between a man and a woman," and he would continue to fight to ensure it stays that way in Virginia.

For more on this story, see:

• Defense of Marriage Act Ruled Unconstitutional

• Fredericksburg Area Responds in Real Time to Gay Marriage Rulings

• Supreme Court Rulings Are Victory for Gay Rights

• Speaker Howell Responds to DOMA Decision