Proposing an amendment to Section 15-A of Article I of the Constitution of Virginia, relating to marriage between two adult persons; repeal of same-sex marriage prohibition; affirmative right to marry.
SJ3 proposes a constitutional amendment to Virginia’s Bill of Rights that would replace the existing marriage language with a broader guarantee that marriage is a vital personal right and that the Commonwealth must recognize lawful marriages between two adult persons. The amendment would remove the current constitutional provision limiting marriage to one man and one woman and would expressly prohibit denial of a marriage license based on the sex, gender, or race of the applicants.
The resolution also bars the state and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing alternative legal statuses for unmarried relationships that are intended to approximate marriage, while affirmatively requiring equal recognition and treatment of lawful marriages regardless of sex, gender, or race. Because it is a constitutional amendment, the measure changes the state constitution rather than ordinary statute, and it would affect marriage licensing, recognition of marriages, and related state and local policies.
If ratified, SJ3 would amend Article I, Section 15-A of the Constitution of Virginia, superseding the prior constitutional definition of marriage and the same-sex marriage prohibition. It would require state and local governments to recognize lawful marriages between two adult persons on equal terms and would prohibit discrimination in marriage licensing based on sex, gender, or race. The amendment would also continue to restrict the creation or recognition of marriage-like legal statuses for unmarried couples, preserving the existing constitutional limitation on alternative relationship recognition.
The available legislative record shows strong support for the resolution: it was agreed to by both the Senate and the House of Delegates. The text and caption indicate the measure is framed as a civil-rights and equality amendment, suggesting a generally favorable sentiment toward expanding marriage rights and removing outdated constitutional restrictions. No committee transcripts or recorded votes were provided, so there is no additional evidence of opposition or debate in the supplied materials.
The main point of contention inherent in the resolution is the replacement of the traditional one-man/one-woman marriage definition with an affirmative right for two adult persons to marry, which implicates long-running debates over same-sex marriage, gender identity, and the role of race in marriage licensing. Another potential issue is the retention of language preventing recognition of marriage-like unions for unmarried individuals, which may concern advocates for domestic partnerships or similar legal arrangements. No specific objections from legislators or stakeholders are included in the provided record.