Virginia is for lovers, or at least so goes that famous marketing slogan that the state used to attract tourists. But as the voters are now being asked to consider an amendment to the constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia that would ban same-sex marriage, truth in advertising would require the state to tell us that Virginia is only for lovers of the opposite sex.

The Marshall/Newman amendment being submitted to the voters of Virginia in November would amend the state's constitution not only to bar same-sex marriage, it would also prohibit any other form of recognition of relationships for unmarried partners. The text of the amendment reads as follows: