Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears speaks with a reporter at her office in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears is evidently “100%” opposed to gay marriage, according to her running mate John Reid.

Reid made the claim during an interview on “The Wilkow Majority Radio Show” last month. During the discussion, the host asked Reid for an example of an issue where he and Earle-Sears disagree on, and his response was same-sex marriage.

“Oh, well, she’s not for gay marriage. She’s 100% against it,” Reid said. “I think, you know, she’s from Jamaica and her religious background tells her a very different narrative than my Episcopalian, white guy from Virginia background.”

Earle-Sears’ campaign did not respond to an email request to clarify her stance on same-sex marriage or if she believes that Virginia voters should know her current stance.

Earle-Sears, who currently serves as Virginia’s lieutenant governor, is the Republican nominee for this year’s off-year gubernatorial election. Although she has not clarified her stance on same-sex marriage recently, she has a long history of showing opposition.

In August, Virginia Mercury reported on a candidate survey from 2004 where Earle Sears, who was running for the U.S. House at the time, indicated that she supports businesses firing homosexual workers over their sexual orientation. She also indicated opposition for same-sex couples to adopt children and that she believes homosexuality is an immoral lifestyle choice.

In 2024, Earle-Sears wrote a hand-written note on House Bill 174, which ensured that same-sex couples could not be denied a marriage license. The Virginia Scope reported that in the note, Earle-Sears said she remains “morally opposed to the content of HB 174 as passed by the General Assembly.” The bill was later signed into law by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R).

During an interview with Richmond 9 News in May, Earle-Sears was asked to clarify her stance, and she implied that she is not in favor of same-sex marriage because of religious reasons. However, she did believe civil unions between homosexuals are acceptable.

Although some protections have been passed in Virginia, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage is currently in the state constitution. In 2006, voters were asked whether they want same-sex marriage banned in the state constitution, and the amendment passed by a 57.06%-42.94% margin.

The ban was rendered unenforceable when the Supreme Court of the United States upheld the right to same-sex marriage in the Obergefell v. Hodges ruling in 2015. The court is more conservative ten years later, and Justice Clarence Thomas has already indicated support for overturning Obergefell and other consequential rulings. Should that happen, same-sex marriage would again be illegal in Virginia.

Another constitutional amendment is being considered that would nullify the 2006 amendment and protect same-sex marriage in the Commonwealth. Although the amendment has already been approved in both chambers of the Virginia Legislature, which are narrowly held by Democrats, law requires that it must pass in each chamber twice with an election in between.

All 100 Virginia delegates are up for reelection on Nov. 4. If Republicans take back the chamber, the future of same-sex marriage could be in jeopardy once again as the amendment needs to pass in both chambers next year before reaching voters.

Reid, who is openly gay, has indicated opposition to the amendment.

“It doesn’t provide protection for people who sincerely don’t agree with gay marriage,” he told the Scope in June. “I’m running to be the lieutenant governor, not to be somebody’s pastor, but I’ve got to protect everybody’s rights.”

Youngkin is not running for reelection as the state constitution forbids governors from serving consecutive terms.