HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 66
(By Delegates Blair, Anderson, Armstead, Ashley, Azinger, Beane,
Boggs, Border, Butcher, Calvert, Cann, Canterbury, Carmichael,
Caruth, Crosier, Duke, Ellem, Ennis, Evans, Faircloth, Ferrell,
Fragale, Frederick, Frich, Hall, Hamilton, Hartman, Howard,
Hrutkay, Iaquinta, Kominar, Kuhn, Leggett, Long, Louisos, Martin,
Michael, Overington, Paxton, Perry, Pethtel, Pino, Proudfoot,
Renner, Romine, Schoen, Shaver, Shelton, Smirl, Sobonya,
Stalnaker, Stemple, Sumner, Susman, Swartzmiller, Tabb, Talbott,
R. M. Thompson, Trump, Tucker, Wakim, Walters, Warner, Webb, G.
White, H. White, Williams, Wright, Yeager and Yost)
[Introduced March 2, 2004; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Requesting the United States Congress to propose an amendment to
the Constitution of the United States affirming the
institution of marriage as a union between a man and a woman
as husband and wife; prohibiting marriage between persons of
the same sex and providing that no state or jurisdiction of
the United States shall be required to recognize any act of
marriage or civil union between persons of the same sex
rendered by another state or jurisdiction.
Whereas, Since the founding days of the state of West Virginia
it has been and is today the unequivocal public policy of this
state that the institution of marriage is a union solely between a
man and a woman as husband and wife; and
Whereas, It is further the unequivocal public policy of this
state that any purported marriage or civil union performed within
this state between persons of the same sex is void ab initio; and
Whereas, The state of West Virginia does not recognize any
purported marriage or civil union between persons of the same sex
performed in any other state or jurisdiction; and
Whereas, Recent developments in other states or jurisdictions
indicate a public policy relating to marriage and civil unions
which is repugnant to the public policy of this state; and
Whereas, The state of West Virginia jealously guards its right
to determine its own public policy as a coequal sovereign state;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Congress of the United States is urgently requested
to propose an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
affirming the institution of marriage as a union between a man and
a woman as husband and wife; prohibiting marriage between persons
of the same sex and providing that no state or jurisdiction of the
United States shall be required to recognize any act of marriage or
civil union rendered in any other state or jurisdiction; and, be it
Further Resolved, That it is requested that the West Virginia
congressional delegation take all appropriate and immediate action
to facilitate such action by the Congress of the United States;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
directed to furnish a copy of this resolution to the West Virginia
congressional delegation.