Marriage Ban Under Fire

Benefits ban debilitates faculty and staff

by Michael Drash | Feb 03 2014

Harsh words and terse documents circled the State Capitol last week, following Attorney General Mark Herring’s announcement that he will refuse to defend the Marshall-Newman Amendment, also known as the Marriage Amendment, which is being challenged in District Court.

The amendment defines a valid marriage as “only a union between one man and one woman.” Such clauses are common to many state constitutions, but the Virginia amendment is unique in that it also forbids the commonwealth and its political subdivisions from “[creating] or [recognizing] a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage.”
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Beyond simply prohibiting same-sex marriage, such a strict and comprehensive code has prevented the University and other state agencies from extending health care and other benefits to the same-sex partners of employees. Extending these benefits is a common practice at other institutions of higher education, and many say the University’s lack of participation has been a prohibitive factor in hiring and retaining talented lesbian, gay and bisexual faculty and staff.
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Students React
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Elizabeth Minneman, a third-year College student and chairman of the College Republicans, while not as supportive of Herring’s actions, said she also believes action is required by the University on this issue. ... “I disagree with Mark Herring,” Minneman said. She added that she only disagreed with his methods, however, and that she supports same-sex marriage. “We barely receive state funding, so I would support U.Va. taking a pro-helping same-sex couples stance.”