NBC4: Sears Wrote Anti-Same Sex Marriage Note on Bill

VIRGINIA - New reporting from NBC 4 details Winsome Earle-Sears’ handwritten note declaring she is “morally opposed” to House Bill 174, the marriage equality legislation Glenn Youngkin signed into law which protects the freedom of marriage equality in Virginia. Sears wrote, “I remain morally opposed to the content of HB174.” 

WATCH HERE

Anchor: Tonight, an openly gay state lawmaker in Virginia is responding to news that the Republican candidate for governor hand wrote a note on a bill that passed the General Assembly, implying she's morally opposed to same sex marriage. [...]

Reporter: On the first day of early primary voting, Virginia Republicans are dealing with the bit of an identity crisis that's stirring up even more controversy tonight, as first reported by Brandon Jarvis at the Virginia Scope the Republican candidate for governor, lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears hand wrote a note on a piece of legislation that passed the General Assembly and was signed by the governor last year.

Del. Rozia Henson: I haven't seen it done before in my time in the General Assembly, even as a legislative aide in the general assembly back in 2014.

Reporter: Rozia Henson represents areas of Prince William and Fairfax counties, and he wrote the bill that the Lieutenant Governor wrote her note on. House Bill 174 prohibits any person authorized by the state to issue marriage licenses from denying someone a marriage license based on their sex, gender or race. 

Reporter: After the bill passed both chambers, the lieutenant governor took a pen to write on to the bill. “as the Lieutenant Governor, I recognize and respect my constitutional obligation to adhere to the procedures laid out in the constitution of Virginia. However, I remain morally opposed to the contents of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.” 

Del. Henson: She knows I'm an openly gay Black state representative, so the fact that she wrote something personal on my bill, knowing that she knows me and my family, that was somewhat disheartening.

Reporter: And a year later, Earle-Sears is now the Republican nominee.