March 2, 2026 Editor, The News-Gazette: I write concerning an article in the Feb. 25 edition: “Family Foundation Director To Speak at GOP Meeting.”
The article claims that the constitutional marriage amendment that will be on an upcoming state ballot “will remove all protections for churches, ministers or other officials who have the authority to perform marriage ceremonies to abstain from performing same-sex marriages.”
This is incorrect. Current law states: “Religious organizations and members of the clergy acting in their religious capacity shall have the right to refuse to perform any marriage.” [Virginia Code § 20-13.2] The proposed amendment does nothing to revoke that right.
Here is the text of the ballot measure: “Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to (i) remove the ban on same-sex marriage; (ii) affirm that two adults may marry regardless of sex, gender, or race; and (iii) require all legally valid marriages to be treated equally under the law?”
This N-G article gives readers the false impression that a yes vote on that amendment would mean that religious clergy would be compelled to perform weddings that would require them to act against their religious faith. Not true. This misrepresentation seems designed to gin up opposition to the amendment on false grounds.
I hope the N-G will issue a correction and be attentive to fact checking their stories. If the N-G wants to separate their editorial views and responsibility for fact checking from the “independent columns” as mentioned in the “Notice” that appears on the “Letters” page, they should be sure to indicate which are “independent columns” and which are the responsibility of the paper. PATRICK BRADLEY Lexington
