RICHMOND, VA — Today, Governor Abigail Spanberger signed House Bill 612 (Cohen), which advances a voter referendum to repeal the 2006 Marshall-Newman Amendment banning same-sex marriage and replace it with an affirmative right to marry for all Virginians.
Narissa Rahaman, Executive Director of Equality Virginia, who attended the signing, released the following statement:
“Twenty years after banning marriage equality, it’s time for our commonwealth to fully complete our evolution – and finish the job on protecting marriage equality for all. It’s up to all of us to vote on November 3, 2026 to safeguard marriage for all Virginians and remove the stain that exists in our constitution. We have come too far over the past 20 years to have any doubt that Virginia voters will support love and dignity for all couples this November.”
The November 2026 ballot will contain the following question: “Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?” If passed by voters in the November 3, 2026 election, marriage equality will be enshrined in the Virginia state constitution guaranteeing marriages between LGBTQ+ couples are protected regardless of future U.S. Supreme Court decisions or changes in federal law.
In November 2006, voters passed The Marshall-Newman Amendment, also referred to as the Virginia Marriage Amendment, that defined marriage as solely between one man and one woman and bans recognition of any legal status “approximat[ing] the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage”. The amendment was ratified by 57% of the voters on November 7, 2006.
Although the amendment is unconstitutional and unenforceable since 2014, it remains part of the Virginia Constitution.
About Equality Virginia
Equality Virginia (EV) is a 501(c)3 organization that advocates and organizes across Virginia to build a future where all LGBTQ+ people thrive. EV works closely with Equality Virginia Advocates (EVA) is a 501(c)(4) organization to advance equal rights for LGBTQ Virginians through public policy and advocacy.
Media Contact: press@equalityvirginia.org | 804-987-4926