Friday, March 12, 2010 | Richmond, VA’s Webmagazine for GLBTQ

News & Views >> Politics

The Truth Will Out

When Proposition 8–overturning marriage equality–passed in California, many of us felt crushed. We were further crushed when the California Supreme Court basically let the vote stand.

Now, there is a federal court challenge to California’s action, on the basis of the constitutional right to equal protection. It is being argued by two leading lawyers, Ted Olsen, a prominent conservative and David Boies, a prominent liberal (they opposed each other in 2000 in Bush v. Gore).

Federal Circuit Judge Vaughn Walker is going to decide if the proceedings should be televised. He has invited the public to comment.

Wouldn’t it be great if this important argument could be seen by all?

Olsen and Boies are pressing for televised proceedings because they know the cause of liberty is advanced by open discussion. The other side opposes the cameras.

You can add your voice to those seeking an open courtroom. But you only have until Friday at 9:00 a.m. Go to http://www.couragecampaign.org/TeleviseTheTrial and add your name to those who want the world to know the truth about equality.

Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline is pastor at Metropolitan Community Church of Richmond.  He is also President of People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, an interfaith organization of gay and straight clergy and lay people working for equality for LGBT Virginians.  Read more of his thoughts on faith and spirituality on his personal blog.

Do Gay Virginians Have Cause to Give Thanks?

TimesDispatchEditorialist A. Barton Hinkle wrote an interesting commentary on yesterday’s Richmond Times-Dispatch on what gays and lesbians have to be thankful for, despite political setbacks.

Understandably, the gay community might be tempted to think November represented two giant steps backward for equality. But that might be taking too dark a view.

For one thing, McDonnell’s election does not necessarily represent a radical change at the Executive Mansion. During the 2005 campaign, Gov. Tim Kaine said “gays and lesbians should be protected from discrimination.” But Kaine — like McDonnell, a devout Catholic— also opposed same-sex marriage, civil unions, and adoption by gay couples.

Read the entire article here.

Washington Post Slams Cuccinelli

Ken_Cuccinelli_02It’s Election Day and this final lap in Virginia has not gone without a bang.  This weekend, the Washington Post had some strong words for Republican Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli in the Op/Ed piece entitled “Mr. Cuccinelli’s bigotry.” The editorial accused Cuccinelli for what the Post says are outdated viewpoints.

On homosexuality, the Post writes:

Homosexual acts, said Mr. Cuccinelli, currently a state senator, are “intrinsically wrong. And I think in a natural law-based country it’s appropriate to have policies that reflect that. . . . They don’t comport with natural law. I happen to think that it represents (to put it politely; I need my thesaurus to be polite) behavior that is not healthy to an individual and in aggregate is not healthy to society.”

Cuccinelli’s stand also received rants from David Lampo, Vice President of the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans.  Last week on the Augusta Free Press, an independent publication in Shenendoah Valley, Lampo writes that Cuccinelli’s views are detrimental to the party.  Lampo writes:

The fact is that theocrats disguised as libertarians will never win the hearts and minds of younger voters, who are much more socially tolerant than their elders. Winning them back, along with other disaffected groups like independents, suburbanites, and highly educated voters will never happen when extremists like Mr. Cuccinelli carry the Republican Party banner. The future of our Party demands that Mr. Cuccinelli be defeated.

Democratic opponent Steve Shannon’s campaign have taken this information to YouTube by posting a video over the weekend.

Deeds Endorsed by Two Advocacy Organizations

creigh-deedsIn the past week, both Equality Virginia and Human Rights Campaign have endorsed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds.

In a press release from EV’s Political Action Committee, CEO Jon Blair made the following statements comparing Deeds and Republican opponent Bob McDonnell:

• Deeds co-patroned legislation to ensure that all public employees will be protected from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and pledges that he will sign an executive order to that effect; as Attorney General, McDonnell ruled that such an executive order would be illegal, stated he would not sign one as governor, and has refused to support a change in the law to ban discrimination. To attract the best public and private employees, Virginia must be welcoming of diversity and avoid discriminatory practices. Anything else hurts employers and employees, stifles economic growth, and limits Virginia’s competitiveness.

• Deeds ultimately opposed the Marshall-Newman marriage amendment; his opponent, Bob McDonnell wholeheartedly endorsed it.

• Deeds says he will support opening up state health benefits to otherwise qualified adults living in the same household as GLBT employees; McDonnell says that’s for the legislature to decide.

“There is no question that for the GLBT community and Virginians who believe in equality for all, there is only one sensible choice for Governor, and that choice is Creigh Deeds,” Blair said in his statement. “While no candidate is perfect, including Senator Deeds, Virginians must support the one candidate who truly understands that discrimination hurts our economy and our families.”

On the HRC Backstory blog, HRC President Joe Solmonese says, “Electing Creigh Deeds must be a top priority for all fair-minded Virginians. Senator Deeds will continue the work of Governors Warner and Kaine to eliminate barriers to equality for the LGBT community. HRC is pleased to be working with Equality Virginia to support Senator Deeds.”

The HRC also has strong words against McDonnell quoting his thesis that “argued that it is the government’s role to ‘restrain, punish, and deter homosexuality.’”

Virginia’s election is November 3.

Candidates Forum Tomorrow at GCCR

RainbowFlagRichmond Regional Candidates’ Forum
September 30, 2009
7pm to 9pm

Gay Community Center of Richmond
1407 Sherwood Avenue
Richmond, VA 23220

If you live or work within a 45 minute drive of Richmond, you’ll want to attend this 2009 election year educational forum featuring candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates.

We’ve invited candidates running to represent voters in the following cities and counties: Caroline County, Charles City County, Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights City, Dinwiddie County, Fredericksburg City, Goochland County, Hanover County, Henrico County, James City County, King and Queen County, Louisa County, New Kent County, Petersburg City, Powhatan County, Richmond City, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County, Williamsburg City.

We’ve also invited all six candidates for statewide office to attend or send representatives.

At the forum, candidates will be asked to address questions developed by the sponsoring organizations that touch on issues of concern to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians and their families and allies.

Plan now to attend this important event on September 30th. Become educated and vote on November 3rd.

Sponsored by Equality Virginia, Fan Free Clinic, Gay Community Center of Richmond, Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) of Richmond, LGBT Stonewall Caucus of the Democratic Party, Log Cabin Republicans of Virginia, Metropolitan Community Church of Richmond, Mothers and Others, PFLAG Richmond, People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, Richmond Lesbian Feminists, ROSMY, Virginia Organizing Project, Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club.

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