Retail group speaks out against VA anti-gay amendment (virgin, marriage)

[Green Gaia]

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories...9908&ran=75096

RICHMOND - Business leaders routinely run from controversial social issues, but some merchant groups and shop owners have leaped into this year's debate over gay marriage and civil unions.

Seventeen companies and two business groups have joined the Commonwealth Coalition, the group organizing the campaign against this year's proposed state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions.
The groups include the Norfolk-based Retail Alliance, which has about 750 members in South Hampton Roads.

Laurel Quarberg, co-owner of The New Leaf flower shop in Ghent, is a member of the Norfolk retail group and an active participant in the campaign to defeat the amendment this fall.

"As a business owner within the gay community, I can tell you we have a wealth of talented, creative people," said Quarberg, a member of the Board of Directors for Equality Virginia, a gay-rights group. "If we start writing discrimination into the constitution, they aren't going to want to live here."

Quarberg said the amendment could create problems for merchants such as herself who share ownership of a business with a gay partner. She fears it would nullify legal agreements leaving the shared business to the surviving partner when one dies.

For reference:
HB751

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 20-45.3 as follows:

§ 20-45.3. Civil unions between persons of same sex.

A civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement between persons of the same sex purporting to bestow the privileges or obligations of marriage is prohibited. Any such civil union, partnership contract or other arrangement entered into by persons of the same sex in another state or jurisdiction shall be void in all respects in Virginia and any contractual rights created thereby shall be void and unenforceable.