Timberville, VA – An employee of an agricultural foods company has been fired over the display of a sign on his private vehicle. The sign said "please vote for marriage on November 7." The company tried to force Luis Padilla to remove the hand-painted sign from his rear window after other employees claimed to be offended. Padilla's statement reflected his religious conviction that marriage should remain a union of one man and one woman. Expressing his viewpoint with others has now cost him his job, but will further his message, as it brings the marriage vote to the attention of more Virginians.

Virginia is one of seven states where voters will decide in November whether marriage will remain as the union of one man and one woman. The other states are Arizona, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin. A proposed amendment is also pending in Colorado.

Liberty Counsel is a nationwide public interest civil liberties law firm with offices in Orlando and Virginia. Liberty Counsel has been involved in over 40 legal cases defending marriage as the union of one man and one woman, and conducts events to encourage pastors and leaders to support traditional marriage.

Anita L. Staver, President of Liberty Counsel, remarked: "I predict that Cargill Foods will regret offending the majority of Virginia voters - those who support marriage as the union of one man and one woman. This is one more example of how speech is stifled in the name of 'tolerance.' Mr. Padilla's viewpoint may have cost him is job, but will encourage others to take a stand by voting 'Yes' for marriage on November 7."