'Octoroon,' 'Aryan': Three couples are suing Virginia for forcing them to identify according to racial categories, some of which are historically outdated, in order to marry

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In one circuit court where marriage licenses are processed, there are 230 available races to choose from, including historically outdated terms such as 'Mulatto,' 'Octoroon' and 'Aryan.'

Paul Ferguson, Clerk of the Circut Court of Arlington County, show members of media the form for applying marriage license at the Arlington County Courthouse October 6, 2014 in Arlington, Virginia.Three Virginia couples filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday seeking to strike down a rule that requires marriage license applicants to identify themselves from a pre-determined list of race categories on their registration form.

In addition to the procedural complaints brought forth by the Virginia couples, their action also disparages the categories as rooted in a history of racial subjugation, describing the process where racial labels were added to Virginia marriage licenses in order to help enforce laws banning miscegenation.

Virginia is requiring marriage license applicants"to label themselves according to malignant racial categories that reflect a history of racist doctrines and policies victimizing dark-skinned persons resident in Virginia following the abolition of slavery," the lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit asks U.S. District Judge Rossie D. Alston, Jr., to declare the controlling Virginia statute unconstitutional and compel circuit court clerks to process their marriage licenses without penalty.

 

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Dont like it? DONT STAY! Snowflakes! 🙄

Not wearing my glasses and thought this article was about Octomom. disappointing

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