SB414 – Birth Certificates; Same-Sex Couples
This bill, introduced by Senator Hanger, would prohibit both parents of a same-sex couple being listed on a birth certificate following an adoption in another jurisdiction. The full text of the bill is:
Prohibits both parties of a same-sex couple from being listed on a Virginia birth certificate following the adoption of a child in another jurisdiction.
This bill is in reaction to a Virginia Supreme Court decision last summer finding that out of state gay and lesbian couples have a right to request and obtain a birth certificate listing both parents’ names in those states.
SB414 failed in committee. The vote was 8-7 against. The result should leave the Virginia Supreme Court decision intact for at least a year.
The anti-equality ‘yes’ votes were Senators Quayle, Martin, Newman, Ruff, Blevins, Rerras, and Bell. The pro-equality ‘no’ votes were Senators Potts, Saslaw, Lambert, Houck, Lucas, Howell, Edwards, and Whipple.