Fellow Libertarians, For your reference, below is the LPVA press release that went out a few minutes after the DOMA ruling was read. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback.
Thanks, Laura ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Libertarian Party of Virginia <communicati...@lpva.com> Date: Wed, Jun 26, 2013 at 10:20 AM Subject: Libertarian Party of Virginia Applauds DOMA Strike Down To: communicati...@lpva.com ** * For Immediate Release Thursday, June 26, 2013 Libertarian Party of Virginia Applauds DOMA Strike Down (Arlington, June 26, 2013) --- The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) today announced its decision on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a United States federal law that restricts federal marriage benefits and limits inter-state marriage recognition to only opposite-sex marriages in the United States. SCOTUS declared in a 5-4 ruling that DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment. The Libertarian Party of Virginia applauds this ruling, which gave the US Government 1,138 ways <http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d04353r.pdf> to treat gay couples differently than straight couples for 17 years. Ending DOMA means the federal government will recognize the legal marriages of same-sex couples in states that recognize marriage equality. The Libertarian Party platform states that “Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws.” The Libertarian Party believes government has no role in the business of marriage. Repealing DOMA is a good first step towards ending government discrimination that has affected millions of Americans. Libertarians believe that returning government to the states and then to individuals is the only true way to respect marriage. Robert Sarvis, Libertarian Party of Virginia candidate for governor, has said that one of his goals in this year’s race is to lead the fight in Virginia towards recognizing same-sex marriage in Virginia. Lindsey Bolton, a tax attorney and candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates in the 47th district, stated if elected she would “introduce a resolution that the Commonwealth's role regarding marriage is merely to respect and uphold a contract”, as should be the government’s sole role in contracts. Other LPVA candidates have stated their intent to work on repealing the Marshall-Newman Amendment, which defines marriage in Virginia as solely between a man and a woman. Jonathan Parrish, House of Delegates candidate for the 33rd district responded to the SCOTUS ruling “it is nice to finally see a decision being made that ensure same sex couples will have access to the same benefits that straight couples do. As they pay the same taxes, this decision is long overdue.” A recent poll from ABC News/Washington Post poll<http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2013/03/poll-tracks-dramatic-rise-in-support-for-gay-marriage/> shows that 58% of Americans support marriage equality, a rapid change from just a decade ago, when only 39% supported it. Americans are coming around to the realization that big government does not belong in our lives, whether it’s our bedrooms or our wallets. The Libertarian Party has supported marriage equality since its founding in 1971. The Republican Party has never supported marriage equality, and Democrats, for all their rhetoric, only added a reference to same-sex marriage to their party platform in 2012 - after it was politically convenient. DOMA, which was pushed through by a GOP-led Congress and signed by a Democratic president, is a product of both Big Government parties. The Libertarian Party is the only party that has been consistently on the side of freedom and personal choice. Questions about the Libertarian Party of Virginia’s position on marriage equality may be directed to LPVA Chairman Chuck Moulton (215) 768-6812 ch...@lpva.com LPVA Communications Director Laura Delhomme (571) 249-4613 communicati...@lpva.com VA Governor candidate Rob Sarvis (571) 499-4015 robert.c.sar...@gmail.com VA HoD (23) candidate Jonathan Parrish parrishfordeleg...@gmail.com https://www.facebook.com/ParrishForDelegate VA HoD (48) candidate Lindsey Bolton boltonforvirgi...@gmail.com * ############################################################# Have an announcement you'd like to post? 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