FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2008

STATEMENT BY VICTORIA COBB, PRESIDENT OF THE FAMILY FOUNDATION OF VIRGINIA, CONCERNING TODAY'S CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING MARRIAGE LAWS

"Today's decision of the California Supreme Court to deny the right of children to have both a mother and a father is appalling. It is not surprising, however, that the court found no difference between so-called "domestic partnerships" allowed by California and marriage itself. Regardless of what they are called - domestic partnerships, civil unions, or some other arrangement - any union that is given the rights and benefits of marriage is marriage, and undermines that institution. By arguing that there is no difference between a so-called "domestic partnership" and marriage the California Supreme Court validated what supporters of Virginia's marriage amendment said all along - we must have a Constitutional amendment that defines marriage and protects Virginia from another state's version of marriage.

"The people of Virginia in 2006 voted overwhelmingly to protect the definition of marriage for days such as this. Like California, our laws protecting marriage were at the mercy of the courts until Virginians were given the opportunity to amend the state Constitution to define marriage. Because of that vote a handful of judges should not be able to toss aside thousands of years of human history and the evidence of social science that marriage between one man and one woman is best for society, families and children.

"Regardless of the insanity of California's courts, the law in Virginia is perfectly clear - we recognize that marriage is the union of one man and one woman, and that children deserve both a mom and a dad. Because of that, our children can rest easier."

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