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| Same-sex marriages begin in Virginia | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| RICHMOND — The Supreme Court on Monday effectively allowed same-sex marriage to go forward in Virginia, deciding not to take up a Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that overturned the commonwealth’s ban on same-sex marriages. | |
| The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a mandate to remove the last barrier to same-sex marriage in Virginia. The first same-sex marriages were performed in Charlottesville and Richmond shortly after 1 p.m. | |
| At the same time, the commonwealth recognized marriages already performed in states as legal. | |
| While opponents of same-sex marriage deplored the change, same-sex marriage advocates and gay couples in Virginia celebrated. | |
| “We are officially married!!!!!!!!!!” Kathryn Hamm, who lives in Arlington, texted her partner of 20 years when she heard the news. | “We are officially married!!!!!!!!!!” Kathryn Hamm, who lives in Arlington, texted her partner of 20 years when she heard the news. |
| In Fairfax County, courthouse clerks set up ropes in anticipation of a surge in same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses. | In Fairfax County, courthouse clerks set up ropes in anticipation of a surge in same-sex couples seeking marriage licenses. |
| Shortly after 1:20 p.m., Falls Church couple Yvonne Landis and Melodie Mayo were the first same-sex couple to begin applying for a marriage license in Fairfax County. | |
| “I’m just really excited,” Landis said. “We always said we are waiting for Virginia. We wanted it to be legal here.” | “I’m just really excited,” Landis said. “We always said we are waiting for Virginia. We wanted it to be legal here.” |
| The couple first had a commitment ceremony 20 years ago and have been together for 23 years. | The couple first had a commitment ceremony 20 years ago and have been together for 23 years. |
| At the Alexandria clerk’s office, Dawn Turton and Beth Trent waited in line for paperwork. Together for four years, they planned to get married on the courthouse steps at 2:30 p.m. | |
| They said that they headed straight to the courthouse as soon as they saw the news on the Washington Post app. | |
| “We called our pastor to come and meet us here,” Trent said. | |
| In Charlottesville, couples eager to marry were lining up at the circuit court clerk’s office, the Daily Progress reported. | In Charlottesville, couples eager to marry were lining up at the circuit court clerk’s office, the Daily Progress reported. |
| “This is a historic and long overdue moment for our Commonwealth and our country,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said in a statement. “On issues ranging from recognizing same-sex marriage to extending health-care benefits to same-sex spouses of state employees, Virginia is already well-prepared to implement this historic decision. Going forward we will act quickly to continue to bring all of our policies and practices into compliance so that we can give marriages between same-sex partners the full faith and credit they deserve.” | “This is a historic and long overdue moment for our Commonwealth and our country,” Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said in a statement. “On issues ranging from recognizing same-sex marriage to extending health-care benefits to same-sex spouses of state employees, Virginia is already well-prepared to implement this historic decision. Going forward we will act quickly to continue to bring all of our policies and practices into compliance so that we can give marriages between same-sex partners the full faith and credit they deserve.” |
| “Equality for all men and women regardless of their race, color, creed or sexual orientation is intrinsic to the values that make us Virginians, and now it is officially inscribed in our laws as well,” he said. | “Equality for all men and women regardless of their race, color, creed or sexual orientation is intrinsic to the values that make us Virginians, and now it is officially inscribed in our laws as well,” he said. |
| Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D), who refused to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, held a news conference in front of the Arlington County courthouse to announce that couples can begin to marry immediately. | Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring (D), who refused to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage, held a news conference in front of the Arlington County courthouse to announce that couples can begin to marry immediately. |
| “This is the outcome that we have hoped for, it is the outcome that we have fought for and it is the outcome that the Constitution requires,” he said. “Today’s decision will change the lives of thousands of loving couples, their children and their families in a positive and transformative way.” | “This is the outcome that we have hoped for, it is the outcome that we have fought for and it is the outcome that the Constitution requires,” he said. “Today’s decision will change the lives of thousands of loving couples, their children and their families in a positive and transformative way.” |
| House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) accused Herring of putting his political views ahead of his responsibility to uphold the law as written. | House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) accused Herring of putting his political views ahead of his responsibility to uphold the law as written. |
| Herring’s actions “represent a dangerous threat to the rule of law, show disregard for the oath of office and demonstrate contempt for the legislative and democratic processes by which Virginians adopt their laws,” Howell said. | Herring’s actions “represent a dangerous threat to the rule of law, show disregard for the oath of office and demonstrate contempt for the legislative and democratic processes by which Virginians adopt their laws,” Howell said. |
| A supporter of what he called “traditional marriage,” Howell said the Supreme Court’s decision today will foster uncertainty. | A supporter of what he called “traditional marriage,” Howell said the Supreme Court’s decision today will foster uncertainty. |
| “The Court’s decision today leaves Virginians without an affirmative answer on this issue, unnecessarily prolonging the political debate and creating long-term uncertainty regarding the status of same-sex marriages in Virginia depending on the outcome of litigation in other parts of the country,” he said. | “The Court’s decision today leaves Virginians without an affirmative answer on this issue, unnecessarily prolonging the political debate and creating long-term uncertainty regarding the status of same-sex marriages in Virginia depending on the outcome of litigation in other parts of the country,” he said. |
| Virginia state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), co-author of the state’s marriage ban, decried the move in a statement and predicted that “marriage will soon include polygamy, or threesomes, leaving innocent children to suffer the consequences.” | Virginia state Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William), co-author of the state’s marriage ban, decried the move in a statement and predicted that “marriage will soon include polygamy, or threesomes, leaving innocent children to suffer the consequences.” |
| Victoria Cobb, president of the Family Foundation of Virginia, said she believes the status of same-sex marriage in Virginia should never have been up to the judicial branch to begin with. | |
| “It’s disappointing that we’re even in the hands of the court, especially since the attorney general chose to not even defend the Constitution, the will of the people,” Cobb said at a news conference in Richmond. “We will continue to advocate for traditional marriage, and we believe strongly that every child deserves a mom and a dad whenever possible. And that’s really what’s at stake here.” | |
| Cobb and other opponents of same-sex marriage noted that 57 percent of Virginia voters supported a 2006 amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman and forbidding recognition of such unions performed elsewhere. | |
| “When you’ve had over a million people who have had their vote tossed over to a judge, it really raises the question of what issue are we able to decide as a people that isn’t going to be affected by the court,” she said. | |
| Delegate Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax) said he would introduce legislation Monday that would formally repeal the ban. | |
| Couples living in Virginia but married elsewhere exulted over their new legal status in their home state. | Couples living in Virginia but married elsewhere exulted over their new legal status in their home state. |
| Hamm, president of gayweddings.com, has been with her partner for more than 20 years. The couple had a wedding 15 years ago and, after the Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act, eloped to the District in November. | Hamm, president of gayweddings.com, has been with her partner for more than 20 years. The couple had a wedding 15 years ago and, after the Supreme Court struck down a key part of the Defense of Marriage Act, eloped to the District in November. |
| Her partner, Amy Walter, 44, is in London on business, so instead of calling, Hamm texted her when the news broke this morning. | Her partner, Amy Walter, 44, is in London on business, so instead of calling, Hamm texted her when the news broke this morning. |
| Hamm, 45, said she expects to see a “wave of legal elopements” among same-sex couples. | Hamm, 45, said she expects to see a “wave of legal elopements” among same-sex couples. |
| “I would imagine that any couple who is paying attention and has seen this news is going to go celebrate,” Hamm said. | “I would imagine that any couple who is paying attention and has seen this news is going to go celebrate,” Hamm said. |
| Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board chairman and the first openly gay person elected in Virginia, said when he was first elected in 1997 he had no idea that same-sex marriage would be legalized in his lifetime. | Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board chairman and the first openly gay person elected in Virginia, said when he was first elected in 1997 he had no idea that same-sex marriage would be legalized in his lifetime. |
| “I see it as a testament to the courage of people to be open and honest and the courage of others to listen and learn,” he said. “It’s also the persistent work of generations following years of pain and suffering that got us to this day. There’s still 30 to 40 percent of Americans without marriage equality and millions, millions of people around the world who are suffering” because they are gay. | “I see it as a testament to the courage of people to be open and honest and the courage of others to listen and learn,” he said. “It’s also the persistent work of generations following years of pain and suffering that got us to this day. There’s still 30 to 40 percent of Americans without marriage equality and millions, millions of people around the world who are suffering” because they are gay. |
| Fisette married his partner, clinical psychologist Bob Rosen, in the District on Sept. 17 on their 30th anniversary. He said they haven’t had a chance to talk about whether to remarry in Virginia, “but this means our marriage will be recognized in our home state.” | Fisette married his partner, clinical psychologist Bob Rosen, in the District on Sept. 17 on their 30th anniversary. He said they haven’t had a chance to talk about whether to remarry in Virginia, “but this means our marriage will be recognized in our home state.” |
| Sen. Adam P. Ebbin (D-Alexandria), the first openly gay member of the General Assembly, said: “It’s a wonderful day. It’s great that Virginians have marriage equality today. We’re waking up from history faster than I could have imagined. It’s nice that this wave that’s crossing the country will now be finalized for Virginians.” | |
| Ted Olson, one of lawyers who brought the Bostic v. Schaefer case that challenged Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage, said in deciding not to overturn or not to even review the decisions of circuit courts, he believes the Supreme Court will eventually grant the right federally. | Ted Olson, one of lawyers who brought the Bostic v. Schaefer case that challenged Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage, said in deciding not to overturn or not to even review the decisions of circuit courts, he believes the Supreme Court will eventually grant the right federally. |
| “Soon, many, many, many more people in the United States who are gay and lesbian and wish to marry the person that they love, and who have been waiting so long to be treated equally under the United States constitution, will finally receive the benefit of equality, due process, equal dignity, and freedom and liberty that the Constitution guarantees to all citizens,” Olson said during a conference call with reporters. | “Soon, many, many, many more people in the United States who are gay and lesbian and wish to marry the person that they love, and who have been waiting so long to be treated equally under the United States constitution, will finally receive the benefit of equality, due process, equal dignity, and freedom and liberty that the Constitution guarantees to all citizens,” Olson said during a conference call with reporters. |
| Carol Schall, who along with her partner Mary Townley was one of the plaintiffs in the original case, described reacting with shock and tearful joy when she got the news via e-mail at work. | |
| “My office-mates heard a gasp come from my office,” Schall said on a morning conference call with reporters. “They came running to the office to see if I was okay, only to see me in a puddle of tears, as I was just so joyful to know that our long journey has ended in such joy.” | |
| Her partner said: “I think one of the most important things for us as a family is that our daughter Emily now can hold her head up high and say, ‘My parents — I have a family just like your family.’ ” | |
| Their 16-year-old daughter also spoke briefly on the conference call from her school. “I’m really happy about what happened and that my family can finally be recognized for what we are, which is a family,” she said. | |
| At a news conference in Richmond on Monday afternoon, Herring said he plans to lead a ceremony in which Schall and Townley will renew their marriage vows. The Richmond-area couple married years earlier in California, so the ceremony is completely symbolic. | |
| Christy Berghoff — a plaintiff in another suit against the state’s same-sex marriage ban, which was filed in federal court in August 2013 — said that though she and her partner Victoria Kidd have also already been married, the decision brings an end to her double life. | |
| “When I sit here working in D.C., I was always married. For the last three years, we’ve been married in D.C. and when I went home I was not married and it wasn’t recognized,” said Berghoff, who lives in Winchester in Frederick County. “I think it will be great when I go home tonight, when I cross over the Potomac, I will be still married.” | |
| Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) campaigned as governor against the ban on same-sex marriage and signed an executive order to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, his office said. | Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) campaigned as governor against the ban on same-sex marriage and signed an executive order to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, his office said. |
| “In letting the Fourth Circuit’s decision stand, the Supreme Court has given loving couples across the Commonwealth the freedom to marry,” he said. “I join countless Virginians in celebrating the end of the discriminatory constitutional ban that has denied same-sex couples this fundamental right. Today, we have taken a major step toward Jefferson’s ideal that ‘all men are created equal.’ ” | “In letting the Fourth Circuit’s decision stand, the Supreme Court has given loving couples across the Commonwealth the freedom to marry,” he said. “I join countless Virginians in celebrating the end of the discriminatory constitutional ban that has denied same-sex couples this fundamental right. Today, we have taken a major step toward Jefferson’s ideal that ‘all men are created equal.’ ” |
| Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D–Henrico) also applauded the decision. | Sen. A. Donald McEachin (D–Henrico) also applauded the decision. |
| “I am very pleased and excited that gay Virginians will now be able to marry. This is a significant step forward in achieving justice and fairness for all. I eagerly await the day when it won’t matter what state a person lives in — when every American can marry the person he or she loves,” he said in a statement. | “I am very pleased and excited that gay Virginians will now be able to marry. This is a significant step forward in achieving justice and fairness for all. I eagerly await the day when it won’t matter what state a person lives in — when every American can marry the person he or she loves,” he said in a statement. |
| Robert Barnes, Patricia Sullivan, Laura Vozzella and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report. | Robert Barnes, Patricia Sullivan, Laura Vozzella and Rachel Weiner contributed to this report. |