VIRGINIA: Richmond City Council To Consider Benefits For Married Gay Couples

The Richmond City Council will meet in early September to consider an ordinance that would recognize the marriages of gay city employees who made it legal in other states.

A major local church is already slamming the move. “When the country gets to a point where we make legal what God says is not legal,” said Richmond Christian Center Pastor Steve Parsons. “We are in trouble.” Richmond city council member Parker Agelasto says it is time to act. “There is a new council,” said Mr. Agelasto. “There is a Supreme Court ruling. I think now is the time.” Patrons of the ordinance include city council president Charles Samuels. “So essentially what we are trying to do is to make sure that the city work force is not discriminated against in any fashion,” said Mr. Agelasto. Pastor Parsons says this is not a civil rights issue. “I don’t call it discriminating against people when you don’t give them the right to be married,” said Parsons. “Because there are certain rights that people shouldn’t have.”

Richmond is Virginia’s state capital so we can expect more than the usual amount of screaming about this.