【France Archives】

When Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine debates his opponent,France Archives Mike Pence, on Tuesday evening, he'll have a number of important guests in the audience, including a lesbian couple who sued the state of Virginia in 2013 because it banned same-sex marriage.

SEE ALSO: New GLAAD video celebrates the power of LGBTQ community through song

The gesture to include Carol Schall and Mary Townley also carries symbolic meaning.

As the governor of Indiana, Pence lobbied for and signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015. Critics argue the bill allows individuals, employers and business owners to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Pence later signed an amendment to the legislation meant to address that criticism, but opponents say it doesn't clearly prohibit discrimination.

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Though Kaine, a Democratic senator from Virginia, once opposed marriage equality, he now supports same-sex marriage and has fought discrimination based on sexual orientation.

The Clinton campaign was eager to draw a stark contrast between Kaine and Pence on Tuesday afternoon, posting a list of "extreme laws" favored by the Indiana governor.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Schall and Townley's lawsuit ultimately overturned Virginia's ban on same-sex marriage. They will attend the event with their daughter Emily Schall Townley, who is a college student.

Other guests include the civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Henry Marsh III, the first African-American mayor of Richmond, Virginia, and Lily Habtu, a survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting.

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