Last week, the Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC) filed a lawsuit in Prince William County Circuit Court challenging – on procedural grounds – the lawfulness of the proposed state constitutional amendment that seeks to redefine marriage and insert gender ideology language, which is set to be decided on the November 3 election. The lawsuit was brought on behalf of Pastor Ben Purves.
You can see a copy of the Complaint on FFLC’s website here.
Pastor Purves has led an initiative among Virginia pastors in opposing the proposed amendment, as well as the amendment on abortion, by authoring and inviting pastors to sign onto “An Open Letter from Virginia Pastors to the Commonwealth,” which can be found at www.virginiapastors.org. More than 400 Virginia pastors have signed.
Left to Right: Josh Hetzler, Executive Director of FFLC; Pastor Ben Purves, Occoquan Bible Church; Michael Sylvester, Litigation Counsel for FFLC
Earlier this year, FFLC filed a lawsuit against the abortion initiative that is on the November ballot, on the basis of a procedural defect as well as deceptive ballot language. Today’s lawsuit raises the exact same procedural defect, namely, the failure of the House Clerk to send and the failure of local Clerks to post, copies of the proposed Amendment language at local courthouses prior to the 2025 intervening election. According to the lawsuit, Virginia courts have historically required strict compliance with required procedures when amending the state Constitution.
“This case is about the rule of law and making sure that if we are going to do something so significant as amending Virginia’s foundational governing document for generations to come, that it is done the right way, according to law.” — Josh Hetzler, Executive Director, Founding Freedoms Law Center
“When we fought to pass the original Marriage Amendment two decades ago, we made sure it was done the right way, according to law. If it’s now going to be changed, it needs to be done the right way, and that was not done.” — Victoria Cobb, President, Founding Freedoms Law Center
“This proposed amendment is wrong for Virginia for many reasons, including that it opens the door to greater threats to religious freedom. In bringing this suit, I am standing on behalf of many Virginians, especially pastors, who oppose this misguided initiative.” — Pastor Ben Purves