Court hearing set over gay marriage ban in Va.   NORFOLK, Va.
(AP) — A federal judge is preparing to hear arguments over
whether Virginia's ban on gay marriage is constitutional.
Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2006
defining marriage as the union of a man and woman. In July,
Timothy B. Bostic and Tony C. London filed a lawsuit after they
were turned down when they tried to obtain a marriage license at
the Norfolk Circuit Court.  They contend the ban denies them
liberties guaranteed by the 14th Amendment. Virginia's recently
elected Democratic attorney general agrees with the plaintiffs
and in January said his office would not defend the state's ban
in court. Republicans have claimed he's abandoned his duty to
uphold the state's laws, regardless of his personal views.
Lawyers for Norfolk's clerk will defend the ban during Tuesday's
hearing.