Spanberger: “Virginians Deserve Leaders Who Will Defend Their Privacy, Dignity, and Freedoms — and Democrats in the Senate and House of Delegates Have Proven to Be Those Leaders”

RICHMOND, Va. — Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger today released the following statement after both the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates passed amendments to protect reproductive rights, marriage equality, and automatic voting rights restoration in the Virginia Constitution.

“Yesterday, the General Assembly completed the first step in pursuing three important constitutional amendments — protecting reproductive healthcare choices, restoring the voting rights of citizens who have completed their sentences, and removing Virginia’s outdated ban on marriage equality.

“Every woman in Virginia deserves the freedom to make her own reproductive healthcare choices with her doctors and family, not as mandated by politicians in Richmond. Every Virginian who has served their time deserves the freedom to take hold of their second chance and regain their voice in our democratic process — their vote. All Virginians deserve the freedom to marry and for their families to be welcomed in our Commonwealth without the shadow of an outdated and unconstitutional ban on marriage equality lingering in Virginia’s Constitution.”

“Virginians deserve leaders who will defend their privacy, dignity, and freedoms — and Democrats in the Senate and House of Delegates have proven to be those leaders. I’m grateful for the sponsors who moved these amendments through the General Assembly. I’m grateful for every legislator who cast their vote to affirm Virginians’ personal freedoms. And I’m grateful to the advocates and community members who’ve contributed to this clear progress. You all are leading our Commonwealth into a stronger future.”

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