Does Del. Bob Marshall have any sense of decency or integrity? In your recent article discussing the impending court challenges to his so-called "Marriage Affirmation Act" ["State ban targeted," May 18], the Republican denied having been advised of the sweeping consequences of his legislation that now calls into question medical directives, wills, and custody agreements between members of the same sex.

Marshall is now trying to distance himself from the consequences of his follies, saying no one told him of the bill's wide-reaching effects.

That's hogwash. Members of Equality Virginia testified before Marshall on numerous occasions in the General Assembly and specifically advised him of the ill effects.

The governor himself attempted to remedy the problems by offering amendments to Marshall's bill. Several of Marshall's gay and lesbian constituents attempted to meet with him to explain how the bill would impact their lives. Equality Virginia even delivered its objections to him in writing before the final vote.

Marshall's doublespeak can be explained only by two equally unacceptable alternatives. Either Marshall was sleeping, not paying attention, or otherwise shirking his legislative responsibility when crucial testimony was being given, or he recklessly chose to ignore this evidence in his zeal to run Virginia's gay and lesbian residents out of the state.

Regardless, the people of Prince William County deserve better representation, and Marshall himself owes your readers an apology for trying to mislead them.

Tracy Thorne

Richmond

Tracy Thorne is vice chairman of Equality Virginia.