Support Equality – General Assembly Session 2015

As the General Assembly begins its short session this year, I wanted to write to make you aware of some bills that have been introduced. As is true every year, some of our elected representatives are hoping to make an even stronger Virginia where all citizens will be treated equally, while some want to promote discrimination. I hope that you will join with equality minded individuals across the state and contact your Delegate or Senator to let them know that you support EQUALITY for all LGBT persons.

Read More

Remembering

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. It raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgender people, an action that current media doesn’t perform. Here are a few events throughout Virginia you may want to attend in recognition of this day.

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Gerry Connolly, 11th Congressional District

Connolly was a strong supporter of equal rights for all, gay rights, and marriage equality long before it was more widely supported by Democratic elected officials. In Fairfax County, Connolly fought for non-discrimination policies to protect the rights of all Fairfax County citizens and employees. He actively opposed efforts to pass the Marshall-Newman Amendment to the Virginia Constitution, which would have banned all gay unions from being performed or recognized in Virginia.

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: John Foust, 10th Congressional District

As the next congressman for Virginia’s 10th District, John will fight to uphold the values of those living in Virginia’s 10th District. He is pleased with the progress our country and the commonwealth are making on marriage equality and supports ending discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. When hearing the news of the recent decision made by the Supreme Court, John Foust issued the following statement: “Today’s news is a significant step forward towards ending discrimination in Virginia and across the country. The Supreme Court has once again shown that it is willing to stand up for the constitutional rights of all Americans to be protected from unjust and unequal treatment. I commend Attorney General Herring for his leadership in protecting the rights of same-sex couples in Virginia. The fight to end discrimination in Virginia is not over, and we must continue the hard work to ensure that all Virginians have a fair chance.”

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Don Beyer, 8th Congressional District

He is a strong supporter of the LGBT community, stating: “I support full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. As a member of Congress, I would support legislation that bans job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. I believe the institution of marriage should be available to committed, same-sex couples, and I would work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe equality is not complete until it reaches every aspect of our society, including adoption and immigration sponsorship.”

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Jack Trammell, 7th Congressional District

As a candidate, Trammell supports fixing the Affordable Care Act and expanding coverage to more Americans. Trammell supports immigration reform, putting millions of immigrants on a path toward citizenship and he believes strong border security is a part of the needed reform. He supports same sex marriage, women’s rights, Roe v. Wade, and raising the minimum wage. Trammel also understands the need to “protect taxpayers, promote accountability and address our nation’s deficits and debt.”

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Lawrence Gaughan, 5th Congressional District

Gauhan is pro-Equality and supports efforts to protect victims of domestic violence. In 2009, Lawrence co-wrote and directed the festival short movie, “Circles of Life”, about the prominent signs of domestic violence. He spoke in September to the attendees of the Equality Breakfast where the LGBT Democrats honored the 4 couples who were fighting for Marriage Equality in Virginia’s courts.

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Elliott Fausz, 4th Congressional District

Elliott Fausz is alum of Virginia Commonwealth University. He recently married Lyndsay, a probation officer in Richmond, Virginia. He runs day to day operations for his family’s newspaper, “The Village News.” This local paper reports activities and news in Chesterfield, Virginia. His 17 year involvement with the newspaper has kept him close to the community, serving its needs. He hopes to continue his service as the new leader of the 4th Congressional District.

Read More

Candidate Spotlight: Bobby Scott of the 3rd Congressional District

Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement on the decision by a three judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit upholding the district court’s decision in Bostic v. Rainey, which ruled Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional: “I applaud the Fourth Circuit for upholding the lower court’s decision in Bostic v. Rainey. This decision is based on sound legal reasoning consistent with a growing list of decisions by courts all over the country, beginning with the Supreme Court’s 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia. The Loving Court unanimously struck down bans on interracial marriage stating that marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man.’ And last year, the Supreme Court in U.S. v. Windsor continued this legal reasoning when it struck down the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, which I opposed in Congress. Today’s decision is a critical step forward for marriage equality in the Commonwealth.”

Read More