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.