[JURIST] The state that was once known as being "For Lovers" has come one step closer to formally banning same-sex marriage. The Virginia Senate [official website] Wednesday overwhemingly approved a bill [text] that would allow voters to endorse a constitutional amendment against it on the upcoming November ballot. Bill sponsor Republican Sen. Stephen D. Newman [official profile] said he was confident the amendment will pass and hoped it would lead to a nationwide debate over the definition of marriage. Democratic Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, [official profile; website] called the bill "overreaching and intolerant" and added that although disagreement is healthly in a democracy, bigotry is not. AP has more.