Earle-Sears Rallies Against Virginia Amendments

Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears spoke at a Richmond rally opposing ballot measures on reproductive rights and same-sex marriage.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Civic

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a classical state capitol dome in deep red against a cream field, evoking a political debate over Virginia constitutional amendments. — Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears rallied in Richmond on Monday against two Virginia constitutional amendments on reproductive rights and same-sex marriage headed for the November ballot. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should Virginia voters approve the constitutional amendments on reproductive rights and same-sex marriage?

Former Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears held a rally at Capitol Square in Richmond on Monday, speaking to a crowd of about 40 people at Bell Tower against two constitutional amendments on the Virginia ballot this year. The rally was part of a statewide tour opposing the measures.

Why it matters

One amendment would establish a fundamental right to decisions on prenatal care, childbirth, contraception, abortion care, and fertility care, while the other would repeal the state Constitution's ban on same-sex marriage. Earle-Sears argues the amendments are unnecessary because abortion is already legal in Virginia and the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex couples have a right to marry.

The rally drew about 40 people at Bell Tower on Capitol Square, a figure reported from the event itself rather than from a broader campaign tally. The total number of stops on the statewide tour and the cumulative turnout across those events remain unreported.

The players

Winsome Earle-Sears

Former Lieutenant Governor of Virginia who led the rally against the amendments and argued they interfere with family life.

Leon Benjamin

Bishop of New Life Harvest Church who launched the rally against the Virginia amendments.

Jeff Caruso

Executive director of the Virginia Catholic Conference, a public policy voice for the state's Catholic bishops.

The details

The rally was launched by Bishop Leon Benjamin of New Life Harvest Church and featured speakers who described Biblical arguments against the amendments. Earle-Sears said that if the amendments pass, families would be further harmed and anyone could take an underage child for an abortion without parental permission.

Monday: Earle-Sears rally held at Capitol Square in Richmond
2026: Constitutional amendments appear on the Virginia ballot

Civic Context

Earle-Sears argues the amendments are not necessary because the U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that same-sex couples have a right to marry, and abortion is already legal in Virginia. The ballot measures would write those protections into the state Constitution.

The amendments would appear on the Virginia ballot this year, letting voters decide directly whether to adopt the reproductive rights and same-sex marriage provisions. Voters who want to weigh in on these measures will need to vote on them at the polls.

The takeaway

The Virginia ballot measures would place reproductive rights and marriage protections directly into the state constitution, leaving the decision to voters this year. Readers can track how the amendments fare as the campaign unfolds.