Tag: Virginia

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Virginia Attorney General says gay marriage ban unconstitutional, joins fight for repeal

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring

Virginia Attorney General Mark R. Herring has announced the state’s ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional, and he would support gay couples who have filed lawsuits challenging the state’s ban.

“After thorough legal review, I have now concluded that Virginia’s ban on marriage between same sex couples violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution on two grounds: marriage is a fundamental right being denied to some Virginians, and the ban unlawfully discriminates on the basis of both sexual orientation and gender,” Herring said.

A spokesperson for the Attorney General’s office, Ellen Qualls, added that “We will file a brief that will change the commonwealth’s legal position and we will argue along with the plaintiffs.”

Herring’s announcement follows recent court rulings in which federal judges struck down gay marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma.

(source)

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Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and wife indicted for illegally accepting luxury gifts and large loans

Former Governor of Virginia Bob McDonnell was indicted today, along with his wife, of 14 felony charges for accepting lavish gifts and vacations

The former Governor of Virginia, Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen were indicted today on 14 felony charges of accepting lavish gifts, vacations and huge loans of more than $160,000 in gifts from the CEO of Star Scientific, Jonnie Williams.

Authorities alleged that McDonnell and his wife received gifts from executive Jonnie R. Williams again and again, lodging near constant requests for money, clothes, trips, golf accessories and private plane rides.

In exchange, authorities alleged that the McDonnells worked in concert to lend the prestige of the governorship to Williams’s struggling company, a small former cigarette manufacturer that now sells dietary supplements.

The two were charged with 14 felony counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obtaining property under color of their official office and conspiring to the do the same.

They were also charged with making false statements to a federal credit union.

McDonnell was also charged with making a false statement to a financial institution, and Maureen McDonnell was charged with obstructing the investigation.

McDonnell was virulently anti-gay during his life as a politician.

While running for governor, he advocated for a state ban on same-sex marriage; said gay parents threaten the ability of their children to achieve the American dream: only straight parents can give children the right start in life; he wanted to block adoptions by same-sex couples.

Immediately after taking office, McDonnell signed a new state policy that specifically removed LGBTQ protections from state workers.

And now we learn he is, allegedly, a crook.

There you have it, kids.

(source)

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Virginia: Newly sworn in Gov. McAuliffe signs executive order protecting LGBT state employees from discrimination

Shortly after taking office in 2010, GOP former Gov. Bob McDonnell removed protections for LGBT state employees by executive order, claiming that there was no evidence that gay people are discriminated against.

In HIS first official act, newly inaugurated Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed an executive order protecting LGBT state employees from discrimination.During his campaign, McAuliffe repeatedly promised to do so.

McAuliffe: “My administration is committed to keeping Virginia open and welcoming to all who call our Commonwealth home. Executive Order Number 1 sets the tone for an administration that will not accept discrimination in any form, and one that will work tirelessly to ensure all Virginians have equal opportunity in the workplace, no matter their backgrounds, race, religion, or whom they love.”

The Washington Blade notes that today’s order includes gender identity and expression for the first time.

(via JMG)

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Virginia: Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe to sign executive order banning discrimination against LGBT state employees

Ah, what a difference an election makes.

As the new governor of Virginia, Terry McAuliffe’s first executive order will be to ban discrimination against LGBT state employees.

Via the Human Rights Campaign:

“In his first day as Governor-elect, Terry McAuliffe has declared a new day for LGBT equality in the Commonwealth of Virginia,” said HRC National Field Director Marty Rouse. “Inclusion and equality won in yesterday’s election, while the politics of hate and discrimination were soundly defeated. We look forward to working with the governor-elect on moving Virginia forward.”

It should be noted that shortly after taking office in 2010, outgoing Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell refused to renew an executive order protected LGBT state employees from discrimination.

And why, you ask? Because he could find no evidence that such discrimination even existed.

Good riddance.

(via JMG)

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Racy campaign posters in Virginia gubernatorial race

The Washington Post is reporting on some racy campaign posters that have made their way onto college campuses incorporating GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s support for outlawing oral sex:

Both posters say at the bottom that they were paid for by “Education Votes, a project of the Democratic Party of Virginia.” They were distributed to other campuses around the state, too, but DPV spokesman Brian Coy said the party has had a change of heart. “While we feel Virginians deserve to know the truth about Ken Cuccinelli’s extreme social agenda, we apologize to those who were offended,” Coy said. “We’re working to remove these posters from the campuses in question and they will not be used again.”

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Hillary stumps for Terry McAuliffe in Virginia gubernatorial race

Hillary Rodham Clinton has joined Democrat Terry McAuliffe on the campaign trail, telling Virginia voters the nation is looking for a return to “common sense and common ground.”

Clinton formally endorsed her family friend’s bid for Virginia governor, marking her first public campaign event since departing the State Department in February.

The former secretary of state says voters are watching the race for a sign that the country would turn away from “divisive politics” after the government shutdown.

Clinton has largely avoided politics this year but is helping McAuliffe as well as former campaign aide Bill de Blasio in his bid for New York City mayor.

Democrats consider Clinton a leading candidate for the White House if she decides to run in 2016.

(from the AP)

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THE VIEW takes on Ken Cuccinelli and his war on oral sex

The ladies of the THE VIEW were outraged – and rightfully so – over GOP Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s plan to bring back anti-sodomy laws to his state.

The “crimes against nature” law in Virginia would outlaw any oral or anal sex between two consenting adults, whether heterosexual or gay.

Barbra Walters notes that Cuccinelli seems to equate oral sex with homosexuality which cues Sherri Shepard to admit this makes her “gay as a two dollar bill.”

And Whoopi points out the irony that conservatives always want LESS government in their lives, and yet here’s a self-proclaimed conservative wanting to regulate what happens in citizens bedrooms. Contradiction, contradiction, contradiction…

It’s a fun exchange. Were Elizabeth Hasselbeck still on the panel, it’s easy to picture her stiff and silent. Thank goodness that’s over. Much more fun now 🙂

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Ken Cuccinelli reaffirms calling LGBT Virginians “soulless” and “self-destructive”

(L to R) Ken Cuccinelli, Terry McAuliffe

In their first gubernatorial debate in Virginia, Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe didn’t shy away from calling GOP nominee Ken Cuccinelli out on his many anti-gay statements.

From ThinkProgress:

McAuliffe repeatedly attacked Cuccinelli throughout the Virginia Bar Association debate in Hot Springs, VA for his record of demonizing science, women’s health, and LGBT people. Twice, McAuliffe noted that Cuccinelli had called LGBT Virginians “soulless” and “self-destructive” and that his attempts to rescind non-discrimination protections have hurt Virginia’s business climate.

Cuccinelli consistently ignored the attacks until moderator Judy Woodruff asked him directly about his previous comments. Cuccinelli responded briefly, saying, “My personal beliefs about the personal challenges of homosexuality haven’t changed.” He then said that as governor he he would “create an environment” economically every Virginian has opportunity.

In contrast, McAuliffe reaffirmed his support for marriage equality, promised to sign an executive order banning discrimination in employment, and said while Virginia’s constitutional ban and Republican legislature make it unlikely, he would sign a marriage equality law if it came to his desk.

According to a recent Quinnipiac University survey, McAuliffe currently leads Cuccinelli 43% – 39%.

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Good marriage equality news from Virginia

From a new poll by Quinnipiac:

Virginia voters support 50 – 43 percent allowing same-sex couples to marry in the state.

Support is 68 – 26 percent among Democrats and 52 – 39 percent among independent voters.

Republicans are opposed 68 – 26 percent.

Women back same-sex marriage 55 – 39 percent while men are opposed 49 – 43 percent.

White voters support it 51 – 43 percent while black voters are opposed 48 – 42 percent.