Central Virginia Community College
CVCC to Host Marriage Amendment Symposium
Three Area Leaders to Discuss the November 7 Election Issue
Lynchburg, VA /Media Release/ -- Reverend Rick Wallin, Pastor of Swan Creek Baptist Church, Thomas Seaman of the Greater Lynchburg Coalition for Fairness, and Royston Jester, Attorney at Law, will meet to present information and views pertaining to the marriage amendment proposal being decided upon by Virginia voters on November 7. The Marriage Amendment Symposium will take place at CVCC’s Student Center at 12:00 noon, Wednesday, November 1. The event is free and opened to the public.
The Constitutional Amendment on Marriage is one of the most significant referendums to be placed in front of Virginia voters in recent years. Passing the amendment would mean defining marriage in Virginia as a contract between one man and one woman. Furthermore, it would ban same-sex civil unions that may provide health insurance and inheritance benefits for gay partners as well as contractual agreements among heterosexual couples. While civil unions are not permitted in Virginia at this time, the amendment would all but eliminate it from consideration by legislators and special interest groups in the future.
The Commonwealth is near evenly divided over the issue. According to a recent poll from the Washington Post, 53% of Virginians support the amendment while 43% oppose it. A late surge in financial support to fight the amendment may make the outcome too close to call leading into Election Day. If the opposition succeeds, Virginia will be the first state to defeat such an amendment.
Virginia is one of eight states that seek to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. State constitutional amendments being voted on also include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Twenty states have already ratified marriage amendments to their Constitutions.
For further information regarding the Symposium contact Matthew Poteat at (434) 832-7622 or send an e-mail to poteatr@cvcc.vccs.edu.
Release Date: 9:45 AM (EDT) 10/18/06
Release Number: 061018.marriagedebate
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Media Contact:
Kennan J. Meyer
Coordinator, Public Relations and Marketing
Central Virginia Community College
(434) 832-7609
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A Member Institution of the Virginia Community College System.