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Candidate Spotlight: Suzanne Patrick of the 2nd Congressional District
This article is a background article about Suzanne Patrick who is seeking to represent the 2nd Congressional District of Virginia. Patrick responded to emails with a brief statement: “In my family, equality and justice came before all else. That’s why I believe that people should be able to marry who they love without legal or social discrimination. ENDA is a good start to making sure that equality is promoted in the workplace, but the issue is far from over. In Congress, I will work to ensure that all people – regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual identity – have equal opportunities.”
Read MoreMarriage Equality Update!
Chief Justice John Roberts has agreed to allow the Supreme Court to decide whether or not a stay is justified in the Virginia same-sex marriage case. After the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals denied the request of county clerk Michèle McQuigg to place a stay on its ruling that found Virginia’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional, her attorneys asked the Supreme Court to intervene.
Acknowledging the request, Chief Justice John Roberts has ordered information to be filed by Monday, August 18 at 5:00 pm. The Court could have granted the stay as requested, refused to grant the stay, or ignored the request and not responded. The Supreme Court has granted every stay request in a same-sex marriage case since its DOMA ruling last year.
This week, the Fourth Circuit confirmed that marriages in Virginia could begin next Thursday. That still holds, unless the Supreme Court rules otherwise – which is likely.
Read MoreVirginia’s Ban on Same Sex Marriage is UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
The Federal Fourth Circuit of Appeals today affirmed the lower court ruling that Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. The LGBT Democrats of Virginia are very excited to celebrate this ruling. Right now, I am extremely emotional and happy that my marriage, as well as many others, may soon be recognized in my home state and that many friends may soon be able to marry in our great Commonwealth.
Read MoreOn Marriage Equality: Yes for Warner. No for Gillespie.
In their first, and perhaps only, debate held in West Virginia on July 25, 2014, with about 800 live stream viewers, Democratic Senator Mark Warner and his Republican challenger, Ed Gillespie, discussed most of the current hot button political issues, including immigration, climate change, and health care reform. They also, briefly, discussed marriage equality. It was the last question of the debate.
Read MoreCandidate Spotlight: Norm Mosher of the 1st Congressional District
Norm Mosher is running against Rob Wittman in the 1st Congressional District. He is a long time resident of Irvington and has served as the chair of the Lancaster County Democratic Committee and as a Virginia representative to the Democratic National Convention in Boston. He served on the Irvington Town Council for six years. Prior to settling in Irvington, he retired from the US Navy with the rank of Captain and he is the founder of several small businesses.
Read MoreObama Signs Historic Workplace Protections Orders
On July 21, President Obama took the historic step of protecting LGBT federal workers and requiring companies that have contracts (valued at $10,000 or more) with the federal government to do the same. President Obama amended Executive Order 11246 and Executive Order 11478, changing the language of both to include both sexual orientation and gender identity. The LGBT Democrats of Virginia applaud President Obama for making this step and encourage our legislators, both on the federal and state level, to expand on this step, and PROTECT ALL WORKERS.
Read MoreLGBT Democrats Represented at the Rural Retreat
The Rural Caucus of the DPVA was reorganized in 2013 to address the needs of rural voters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Rural localities make up 90% of Virginia, and the Rural Caucus seeks to identify and address issues of importance in these areas. It also seeks to identify and elect strong Democratic candidates on all levels.
Read MoreLGBT Democrats of VA Join Equality Rally in DC
On June 30th, I had the honor to stand with LGBTQ Activists from across the country to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and to demand that Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity be added to all the protections of this act. It is time for FULL LEGAL EQUALITY!
Read MoreTriangles
The Richmond Triangle Players (RTP) just recently closed on an extended and sold out run of Cabaret. The story of Cabaret takes place in Nazi Germany prior to World War II. A young bisexual American goes to Berlin to experience and to write. His wide-eyed excitement upon arriving turns dark as he realizes that he is helping the Nazi Party by trafficking contraband and money from France to Germany. When he finds out that his first friend in Germany is an enthusiastic Nazi Party member, and his new friend, a Jewish merchant, is being threatened by the coming rise of fascism, his dream world falls apart. The final scene shows the concentration camp and the characters we have just grown to know. The last vision as the stage lights dimmed was the Emcee of the cabaret standing in the camp wearing the infamous yellow Star of David with a pink triangle.
Read MorePride Season
“As progress spreads from State to State, as justice is delivered in the courtroom, and as more of our fellow Americans are treated with dignity and respect — our Nation becomes not only more accepting, but more equal as well. During Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, we celebrate victories that have affirmed freedom and fairness, and we recommit ourselves to completing the work that remains.”
– President Obama’s proclamation declaring June as LGBT Pride Month
LGBT Pride is in full swing across the Commonwealth, country and world! First, we wish to thank the Town of Herndon for proclaiming June as LGBT Pride Month. Linh Hoang, our Executive Vice Chair accepted the LGBT Pride Month Proclamation from the Town of Herndon on our behalf.
In the coming weeks, we will be sharing information at the following events:
August 23 – Hampton Roads Pride
September 6 – Equality Breakfast
September 13 – Charlottesville Pride
September 21 – Roanoke Pride
September 27 – Virginia Pride
October 1 – LGBT Forum in Chesterfield County
Court Poised to Strike Down Marriage Ban
It appears that the Fourth District Court of Appeals are poised to strike down Virginia’s Constitutional ban on same sex marriage. The hour-long hearing inside the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals featured a lively back-and-forth between three judges and the attorneys representing both the same-sex couples who filed suit on behalf of a larger class of LGBT Virginians, as well as those representing a local county clerk who does not want to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Read MorePancakes & Politics in Arlington on Sunday, May 4th!
On Sunday, the LGBT Democrats of Virginia will host Pancakes & Politics with Rep. Jim Moran in Arlington. For those of you who do not know our history, the Virginia Partisans and LGBT Democrats of Virginia have hosted many events and raised tens of thousands of dollars in support of equality minded candidates for the last 20 years.
Read MoreThank You for Supporting Equality!
On behalf of the LGBT Democrats of Virginia, I want to personally thank you for standing up for equality, especially over the past few weeks. About 1,000 folks joined us by signing our petition in support of marriage equality, including almost 100 Central Committee members!
Read MoreDemocrats Care About People
Joel McDonald spoke at the March 2014 Central Committee meeting of the Democratic Party of Virginia on the progress the Party has made toward marriage equality and hope for the future. Video and transcript included.
Read MoreLGBT Democrats of Virginia Meets with Mayor Dwight Jones
This past Monday, a delegation from the LGBT Democrats of Virginia, met with Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones to discuss his lack of support for marriage equality. After the meeting, the Mayor released a statement where he said, “It would be my honor to lead the party in seeking full equality under the law, which everyone deserves.”
Read MoreNearly 800 Virginians Sign Petition Supporting Pro-Marriage Equality DPVA Chair
Nearly 700 people have signed the petition and letter in the 48 hours since the petition was launched. The number includes 71 Central Committee members who will vote on the new chair on March 15th. 40 local party chairs and other officers also signed onto the effort.
Read MoreMayor Dwight Jones Should not be Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia
We have a President, a Vice President, and a U.S. Attorney General who now stand on the right side of history, on the side of equality. The Democratic Party of Virginia must not consider retreating on this issue. Instead, the Party should heed the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, who declared, ‘Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere’. These are beliefs the Chair of the Democratic Party of Virginia must embody.
Read MoreOur Holy Union
I am reminded of how far we’ve come in 41 years. Back then, ours was “the love that dared not speak its name.” There was no political support for gay rights – let alone broader LGBT rights – in either party.
Read MoreAttorney General Mark Herring Will Not Defend the Marshall-Newman Amendment
We commend Attorney General Herring for his thoughtful legal review and for maintaining the independence of the Attorney General’s office. His decision will put Virginia on a path to the right side of history and the right side of the law.
Read MoreGot Pride?
Prides are popping up in places that people hardly knew existed. As the winds of change shift and our deeds pen the pages of history, what will you have written, when the ink is dry?
Read More