Written by DCist contributor Christopher Durocher

Opponents to Virginia’s proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage, including Virginia Delegate Adam Ebbin and D.C. Council-member David Catania (I-At Large), will host a benefit tonight at the Human Rights Campaign’s D.C. headquarters. The event is designed to bring together both members of the Virginia community who oppose the marriage ban, as well as District and Maryland residents who support their efforts.

The benefit will raise money for the Commonwealth Coalition, an organization formed this spring by the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) rights organization Equality Virginia. It’s members include a variety of civic, political, business and church organizations. Commonwealth Coalition’s primary objective is the defeat of the gay marriage ban, known as the Marshall Newman Amendment through educational and grassroots efforts.

According to Ebbin, the first openly gay delegate in Virginia’s General Assembly, the amendment, “will open a Pandora’s Box of unintended consequences by encouraging legal battles, putting unmarried victims of domestic violence in danger, adding unnecessary and discriminatory language to Virginia’s Bill of Rights and creating an environment that’s bad for business.” Ebbin finds it ironic that opponents of marriage equality would use Virginia’s Declaration of Rights, the first written constitution in the Unites States, to enforce discriminatory policies towards the LGBT community.