I SUPPORT HB 174. Marriage equality is long overdue. I SUPPORT HB 640. It's the least we can do to provide restitution to someone who was wrongfully incarcerated. I SUPPORT HB 766. Sexual abuse should absolutely be taken into account when adjudicating for a child's best interest and no child should be under the custody of someone who abused them. I SUPPORT HB 81. It's disgraceful that someone who suffered enough to attempt or die or suicide would ever be treated like a criminal, and this kind of stigma is a barrier to getting help that would prevent suicide. I OPPOSE HB394. It was a joyous occasion in 2021 when Virginia abolished the death penalty, and we should never go back to the days that we still had that.

I am commenting today on behalf of The Justice & Witness Action Network – Virginia of the United Church of Christ. Our denomination affirms equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry. We support passage of HB174 to ensure that the right to marry for all Virginians remains protected by law.

As Unitarian Universalists, we affirm the inherent worth and dignity of all people as a core principle. Few things are more relevant to worth and dignity than the respect of one's community in their choice of a life partner and the full and equal participation of that joined couple in the community. On one of their happiest days, no human should be confronted by the obstacle of another who would deny them their civil right and rob them of the dignity of that moment of acceptance. We support this long overdue measure to bring clarity and assurance to same sex couples seeking to exercise their constitutional right to marriage.

Cmon, people. If one wants to get married, let them get married! Love is love.