Constitution of Virginia: Marshall/Newman Amendment on Marriage (Article I, § 15-A)

Article I, Section 15-A of the Virginia Constitution, known as the Marshall/Newman Amendment, limits marriage to the union of one man and one woman. It also barred same-sex couples from marrying in Virginia and prohibited recognition of same-sex marriages that were performed in other jurisdictions. Although this provision remains in the text of the Constitution, the Fourth Circuit’s decision in Bostic v. Schaefer found it unconstitutional under the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the U.S. Constitution, rendering it unenforceable.

Topics

• LGBTIQ

Geographical location

• North America
• United States
• Virginia

Keywords

• constitutional rights
• marriage equality
• 14th amendment

Year

• 2007

External URL

• Constitution of Virginia: Marshall/Newman Amendment on Marriage (Article I, § 15-A)

Type

• Legislation

Jurisdiction

• Virginia