(Richmond, VA) Today, The Commonwealth Coalition released findings from a recent statewide poll of likely Virginia voters that shows significant erosion in support for the Marshall/Newman amendment. A 23% lead last summer deteriorated to a "virtual statistical dead heat" when voters were read the actual language that will be on the ballot in the fall. 54% of likely voters now say they will vote NO or are undecided. Support for the amendment is now well below 50%.

(Richmond, VA) The Commonwealth Coalition released today the names of its Advisory Council members and a list of the first 60 community and civic organizations, congregations and faith organizations and companies and business organizations that have formally joined The Coalition in its fight against the Marshall/Newman amendment. The organizations that are members of The Coalition represent hundreds of thousands of individual Virginians already committed to voting NO on Ballot Question #1 November 7^th.

July 13, 2006 

(Richmond, VA) Yesterday a Connecticut trial court in New Haven refused to set aside the state's civil union law. Claire Guthrie Gastañga, campaign manager for The Commonwealth Coalition issued this statement on the decision:

Despite the fact that a majority of Virginia voters (59%) support civil unions, the Marshall-Newman Amendment will forever deny the Virginia General Assembly - the people's representatives - the right to enact a law, like Connecticut's, that recognizes civil unions or affords to unmarried couples and their families any of the legal or financial benefits, rights or obligations of marriage.  

*** CLICK HERE TO TELL US WHAT THE AMENDMENT SHOULD BE NAMED

The Virginian-Pilot
© July 8, 2006

Ordinarily, we're cheered whenever conversation turns to the meaning of words and sentences and titles, something near and fairly dear to our writerly hearts.

Then, of course, there's the conversation about what to call the proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Virginia:

"This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage."

July 6, 2006

(Richmond, Virginia) The Commonwealth Coalition released this statement today regarding decisions by the New York Court of Appeals and the Georgia Supreme Court that were handed down this morning:

"Amendment supporters lost a key scare tactic today - the threat of ‘activist' judges," said Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, campaign manager for The Commonwealth Coalition.  "Let's face it," she continued, "if the highest court in liberal New York upheld its state law protecting traditional marriage and banning gay marriage, Virginia voters won't be scared into thinking our conservative courts won't protect marriage, too."

Tuesday June 13, 4:40 pm ET

Download a pdf of this article / Read full text of resolution

FALLS CHURCH, Va., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- In a landmark development, the board of directors of the Greater Falls Church, Virginia, Chamber of Commerce voted unanimously to oppose passage of the so-called Marshall/Newman Amendment on the ballot in Virginia in November. The amendment would place in the Virginia Constitution a ban on gay marriage and its benefits.

(Richmond, April 6) -- On Saturday, April 8, The Commonwealth Coalition will launch its campaign to prevent the passage of an amendment to the Virginia bill of rights proposed by Delegate Bob Marshall and Senator Steve Newman. In line with other extreme measures proposed by these legislators, the text of the Marshall/Newman amendment, which will be on the ballot in November, proposes a sweeping ban on any and all legal recognition of unmarried relationships - gay and straight, including a ban on civil unions and domestic partnerships.

The Coalition's announcement will be made in remarks to the more than 1300 attendees expected at the 3^rd Annual Commonwealth Dinner, hosted by Equality Virginia. Dyana Mason, Executive Director of founding Coalition partner Equality Virginia, will introduce The Coalition's director and campaign manager, Claire Guthrie Gastañaga at the event.