Every Virginian Should Have The Right to Marry!

Email to Senator McEachin, Senator 9th District, Commonwealth of Virginia: On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 7:11 PM, <elishevanumber7@earthlink.net wrote: Reverend Thomas Wade Clegg III Mail Box 105, 265 Turkeysag Trl, Suite 102 Palmyra, VA 22963 February 1, 2016 Sen. McEachin: I am writing to ask that you vote against SB 40 when it comes for a vote before the Senate Courts of Justice Committee. This bill would allow all clerks and deputy clerks in the commonwealth to refuse to issue a marriage license to any couple if the clerk objects to the marriage based on "personal, ethical, moral, or religious grounds." That means government officials could deny the right to marry to couples if the clerk doesn't like their sexuality, skin color, political affiliation or for any other reason. This is just wrong. Fundamental reasons why SB 40 should be defeated are: - Freedom of religion does not mean freedom to discriminate - No law authorizes or requires an accommodation of religious beliefs that burden others. - SB 40 would deny Virginians the fundamental right to marry. - Allowing couples to get licenses elsewhere does not save this bill. I hope I can count on you to do the right thing for Virginia and your district and vote against this awful, discriminatory bill. Thank you. Sincerely, Thomas Wade Clegg III RESPONSE FROM SENATOR McEACHIN From: Senator Donald McEachin [mailto:district09@senate.virginia.gov] Sent: Monday, February 01, 2016 8:49 PM To: elishevanumber7@earthlink.net Subject: Re: Every Virginian should have the right to marry! Dear Mr. Clegg, Thanks for writing me about sb 40. Please know I share your concern. I do not believe we should be legalizing bigotry or prejudice. I believe all Virginians deserve equal opportunity, justice and fairness. Thanks for your advocacy on this important subject.   Take care, A. Donald McEachin