Welcome to ArticleXI.com!
We are a group of environmental advocates united in providing a one-stop source for Virginia's environmental news. We each focus on different issues, but share the vision of a Commonwealth that preserves and protects its natural resources. Please join us!
Washington, DC., January 21, 2011. In a widely-anticipated decision today, the Supreme Court ruled that oil giant Exxon Mobil has a federal constitutional right to marry. Exxon merged with Mobil more than ten years ago but, according to the opinion written by Chief Justice John Roberts, "Restricting corporations to mergers denies them one of the central rights of personhood, and effectively creates a separate and unequal class of persons comprised only of corporations."
Exxon and Mobil were formally married in Alaska earlier this year after the state law there was changed to legalize corporate marriages. Though several members of the Alaskan legislature had initially expressed reluctance, they changed their minds after Exxon Mobil contributed a million dollars to each of their campaign funds.
Exxon promptly sought to have its marriage recognized by the federal government, which resulted in its challenge to the so-called "Defense of Marriage Act." In yesterday's decision, the high Court agreed with Exxon that the law's restriction of marriage to "one man and one woman" violated the Equal Protection clause of the Constitution.
The court made clear, however, that the Defense of Marriage Act would continue to bar the recognition of marriages between homosexuals. "We would be guilty of overreaching were we to hold otherwise," concluded Roberts.
User comments or postings reflect the opinions of the responsible contributor only, and do not reflect the viewpoint of the Sierra Club and/or the League of Conservation Voters. The Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters do not endorse or guarantee the accuracy of any posting. The Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters accepts no obligation to review every posting, but reserves the right (but not the obligation) to delete postings that may be considered offensive, illegal or inappropriate.
ArticleXI.com is paid for and authorized by
Virginia League of Conservation Voters PAC, 530 East Main Street, Ste. 410, Richmond, Virginia 23219, (804) 225-1902 and
Sierra Club VA PAC, 422 E. Franklin Street, Suite 302, Richmond, VA 23219, (804) 225-9113.
