Equality Fairfax

2008 Northern Virginia Voter’s Guide

to GLBT Issues

 Researched and Produced by:

Equality Prince William, Equality Fairfax, Equality Loudoun, Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance,

and Alexandria Gay & Lesbian Community Association

The organizations sponsoring this guide are non-profit in nature.  The information provided below is factual and does not imply endorsement by the organizations (unless stated).  It is provided to assist our members in conducting their own research.  It is our hope that it will aid members in arriving at meaningful, intelligent decisions, based on voting records and publicly stated positions on issues of import to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and allied communities. Candidates are listed alphabetically according to office.

President

Senator John McCain (R-Arizona)

Human Rights Campaign Scores

2006 – 33

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Declined to sponsor Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage

2004 – 25

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Declined to sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

2002 – 17

• Voted NO on extending sexual orientation to Federal Hate Crimes Law
• Declined to sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Other Votes

• 2000 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), restricting Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states.  Passed, 85-14.
• 1996 – Voted NO to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  Bill failed in Senate, 49-50.
• 1993 – Voted YES to establish “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.  Motion to strike language failed in Senate, 33-63

Stated positions

• Supports California Ballot measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, 2008
• Believes that “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is “working,” 2008
• Stated that while he could choose a Vice-President candidate who was pro-choice, could not choose one who is “pro-gay rights,” 2008

Endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans by a 12-2 vote of their board of directors

Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)

Human Rights Campaign Scores

2006 – 89

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Co-Sponsored Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage

Stated Positions

• Supports ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in U.S. Military, allowing openly gay soldiers to serve, 2008
• Opposes California Ballot measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, 2008
• Believes being gay is not a choice, 2007
• Co-Sponsored Legislation to extend Domestic Partner Benefits to Federal Employees, 2007
• Opposes same-sex marriage rights but supports civil unions, 2006, 2007
• Supports Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act that restricts Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states, 2004

Endorsed by the National Stonewall Democrats

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign

 

Vice President

Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)

Human Rights Campaign Scores

2006 – 78

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Co-Sponsored Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage

2004 – 63

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Co-Sponsored Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

2002 – 100

• Voted YES on extending sexual orientation to Federal Hate Crimes Law
• Co-Sponsored Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)

Other Votes

• 2000 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), restricting Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states.  Passed, 85-14
• 1996 – Voted YES to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).  Bill failed in Senate, 49-50
• 1993 – Opposed establishment of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.  Motion failed in Senate, 33-63

Stated positions

• Supports ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in U.S. Military, allowing openly gay soldiers to serve, 2008
• Supports NO vote to Proposition 8 in California, which would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage after it was legalized in California this year, 2008
• Supports civil unions, declares same-sex marriage “inevitable,” 2007

• Believes that same-sex marriage is “probably inevitable,” 2003

Endorsed by the National Stonewall Democrats

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign
Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska)

No Human Rights Campaign Scores available (only scored for U.S. House and Senate)

Stated Positions

• Announced support for Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) constitutionally banning same-sex marriage as part of the U.S. Constitution, 2008
• Believes being gay is “a choice,” 2008
• Disagreed with Alaskan Supreme Court decision to mandate domestic partner workplace benefits for state employees, 2007
• Opposes same-sex marriage rights, no stated position on civil unions, 2006
• Supported non-binding resolution to deny state health benefits to same-sex couples, 2006
• Opposes domestic partner benefits in Alaska, 2006
• Supported 1998 Alaska Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage, 2006

Endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans by a 12-2 vote of their board of directors

 

United States Senate

Former Governor Jim Gilmore (R)

Stated Positions

• Proclaims support of Virginia’s Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment barring recognition of same-sex couples through marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, or “other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage,” Campaign website, 2008
• Campaigned for constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in New Hampshire, 2007, more information, 2007

Former Governor Mark Warner (D)

Stated Positions

• Added sexual orientation to Virginia state government’s nondiscrimination policy by executive order, 2005, reflected on campaign website, 2008
• Opposed Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006
• Attempted to weaken state law (HB751) which legislatively forbids recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in Virginia.  Veto-overruled, 2004
• Signed bill permitting Virginia institutions to offer same-sex domestic partner benefits if they choose; Virginia had been the only state to bar this ability, 2004
• Supports extending Virginia’s hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, 2001

Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club

United States House of Representatives

Not sure what district you’re in?  Click here and find out! 

10^th Congressional District

(portions Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Frederick, Warren, Clarke Counties, cities of Winchester, Manassas and Manassas Park)

Judy Feder (D)

Stated Positions

• Opposed Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006
• Discusses Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006

Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008

Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2006

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, 2006

Rep. Frank Wolf (R-incumbent)

Human Rights Campaign Scores

2006 – 0

• Voted YES on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Voted NO to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crimes statues

2004 – 0

• Voted YES on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Co-Sponsored Federal Marriage Amendment
• Voted NO to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crime statues

2002 – 0

• Declined to co-sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.
• Declined to adopt written policy in own office indicating sexual orientation not a hiring factor.

Other Votes

• 2007 – Voted NO to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.  Bill passed House 235-184, stalled in Senate.
• 1999 – Voted YES to bar District of Columbia from permitting same sex couples from adopting.  Bill amendment failed, 213-215.
• 1996 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  Bill passed, 342-67.

11^th Congressional District

(Fairfax and Prince William Counties, Fairfax City)

Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connolly (D)

Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008

Keith Fimian (R)

No information was available regarding this candidate’s position on GLBT issues.

8^th Congressional District

(Arlington and Fairfax Counties, cities of Alexandria and Falls Church)

Mark Ellmore (R)

Endorsed by the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans, 2008 – no link provided, VALCR does not mention the endorsement on their website.

Stated Positions

• Supported Marshall Newman Marriage Amendment, 2008.
• Opposes same-sex marriage but supports Civil Unions, 2008.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-incumbent)

Human Rights Campaign Scores

2006 – 100

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Voted YES to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crimes statues

2004 – 100

• Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
• Voted YES to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crime statues

2002 – 100

• Co-sponsor of Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.
• Adopted written policy in own office indicating sexual orientation not a hiring factor.

Other Votes

• 2007 – Voted YES to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.  Bill passed House 235-184, stalled in Senate.
• 1999 – Voted NO to bar District of Columbia from permitting same sex couples from adopting.  Bill amendment failed, 213-215.
• 1996 – Voted NO on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).  Bill passed, 342-67.

Stated Positions

• Supports same-sex marriage rights, 2004
• Editorialized in favor of ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces., 2005.

Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008

Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, 2006

1^st Congressional District

(Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania Counties, Counties of the Northern and Middle Neck, extending down to Williamsburg)

Bill Day (D)

No information was available regarding this candidate’s position on GLBT issues.

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-incumbent)

Rep. Wittman took office in December 2007 after a special election.  As such the Human Rights Campaign has not yet ranked his voting record.

Other Votes

• 2007 – Voted YES to severely restrict Gay-Straight Alliances in public schools (as Virginia State Delegate).  Bill passed House 82-15, Failed in Senate.
• 2007 – Voted YES to pass hospital visitation rights bill (as Virginia State Delegate).  Bill passed House 100-0.  Delegate Wittman was a co-sponsor of this bill.
• 2006 – Voted YES to pass Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment (as Virginia State Delegate) barring recognition of same-sex couples through marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, or “other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.”  Passed 64-35, 74-20.

Stated Positions

• Signed statement that he will not discriminate based on sexual orientation in his office, 2007 (as Virginia State Delegate).

September 5, 2008
8:00 pm	to	11:00 pm

Join Equality Fairfax and Equality Loudoun to see Bare, A Pop Opera at the Loudoun campus of Northern Virginia Community College in Sterling.

The synopsis is: Set in a Catholic boarding school, the show centers on a group of friends during their senior year. Altar boy Peter is in love with his roommate Jason, one of the most popular kids in school. They are carrying on a closeted romance but Peter wants to go public with their affair, at least to his mother, whom he loves dearly. Jason isn’t so keen on the idea, as he feels that his entire world would crumble if word of the relationship got out. Things get more complicated when Ivy makes a play for Jason. Her rejected suitor Matt discovers the secret that Peter and Jason have been keeping and it’s only a matter of time before things start to spin out of control. You can find more info about the play at www.cct2ft.com/joomla/.

The music is supposed to be great and it sounds like a fun time.

We’ll meet in in the lobby of the theater from 6:15 to 6:40 and then head in as a group. You can buy your tickets at the box office or purchase them online at https://www.vendini.com/ticket-software.html?e=fd3ca91fea9c75856e30770d407d1131&t=tix. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students and seniors.

If you plan to attend, let us know so we can be on the lookout for you at the theater.

We may decide to grab a bite to eat after the show if anyone wants.

Waddell Theater, Loudoun Campus of Northern Virginia Community College, Sterling, VA

June 28, 2008
10:00 am	to	2:00 pm

Join Equality Virginia, Equality Fairfax and other NoVA community organizations for a conversation about transgender identities, as well as a briefing on the Federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA).

Following the briefing will be a community discussion regarding Equality Virginia’s bill to stop workplace discrimination.

Please bring your own lunch! Equality Virginia will provide snacks and drinks.  

Click http://www.equalityvirginia.org/site/pp.asp?c=dfIIITMIG&b=132624\”\” to RSVP.

Current Co-Sponsors are:

•    Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance
•    Equality Fairfax
•    Equality Loudoun
•    Equality Prince William
•    Metropolitan Community Church of Northern Virginia
•    The Transgender Education Association
•    Unitarian Church of Arlington – Virginia Rainbow UU Ministry
•    Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club
•    Whitman-Walker Clinic 

June 21, 2008
6:00 pm	to	8:30 pm

 

Peace, Salaam, Shalom. “Bold, profound, moving, hilarious and transformative,” emma’s revolution is a musical uprising of truth and hope from award-winning songwriters Pat Humphries & Sandy O. Featured on NPR , “Democracy Now!” and winners of the John Lennon Songwriting Grand Prize, their songs of peace, social justice and care for the earth are sung around the world. St. James United Church of Christ and Equality Loudoun are very pleased to bring these wonderful musicians back to Loudoun.

 

6:00 pm – Backstage pass party with the artists/silent auction
7:30 pm – Concert begins

For those coming for the backstage party, there are fabulous items for the silent auction, not to mention a tasty feast generously donated by local restaurants.

Tickets are $18 in advance (concert only), $25 in advance (including the party), and $15 in advance (*including the party) for students/youth and members of St. James and Equality Loudoun. Tickets for the concert only will be available at the door for $20.  This is a kid-friendly show – everyone is welcome.

To reserve tickets, contact events@equalityloudoun.org or call 703.431.0882. Tickets are also available at Greater Goods, 1 S. Loudoun St. in Lovettsville.

St. James United Church of Christ
10 East Broad Way
Lovettsville, VA, 20180

April 22, 2007
12:00 pm	to	2:30 pm

Mark Your Calendars – Estate Planning Workshop and Pot-Luck Brunch Sunday 4/22/2007

Equality Prince William, Equality Fairfax, and Equality Loudoun are proud to be co-sponsoring a pot luck brunch, followed by:

A Workshop:
The Nuts & Bolts of LGBT Basic Estate Planning
What LGBT individuals, couples and families can do in Virginia

A workshop and Q&A session given by:
J. Paul Walla
of the law firm Ashton, Walla & Associates, P.C.

Paul Walla, Esq. is an graduate of the Catholic University of America and received his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from George Mason University. He specializes in the areas of family law and general criminal defense. Currently, he serves as a Guardian ad Litem and Indigent Council in the Greater Prince William court system as well as a Public Defender in the Culpeper County court system. The offices of Ashton, Walla & Associates are located in old town Manassas City.

Bring a small dish for the potluck brunch, and more importantly bring your questions on wills, advance medical directives, hospital visitation rights, powers of attorney, what changes and doesn’t change as a result of the recent so-called Marriage Amendment passage in Virginia, and anything else that’s on your mind.

This brunch and workshop is being held at a point roughly equidistant between Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William Counties. See address below.

Time: Sunday, April 22, 2007
12:00 noon – 2:30 pm

Cost: FREE

Directions: From I-66 take the first Prince William County exit, Route 234 Business South, Exit 47A. At your fifth stop light turn R onto Sudley Manor Drive. Follow past two stop lights and turn right onto Seymour Drive. (No stop light or stop sign for Seymour so be on the lookout!) The Bull Run Swim & Racquet Club is up the small hill on your right hand side.

RSVP’s are appreciated and can be sent to Brian Pace at brian@equalityprincewilliam.org. Paul Walla has asked that if there are specific areas you would like to see covered or specific questions that you have, that you email Brian beforehand so he can route them to Paul, so that he may best address them satisfactorily.

See you there!

The Bull Run Swim & Racquet Club Community Center
8101 Seymour Road
Manassas, VA, 20109-8218

November 16, 2006
7:30 pm	to	9:00 pm

Attend NoVA Campaign Wrap-Up Meeting
Learn “What’s Next” in the Fight for Equality, and How You Can Help

We want to hear from you! Please join Equality Fairfax, Equality Virginia, AGLA, AGLCA, Equality Prince William and Equality Loudoun at a town hall/community meeting to discuss the outcome of the campaign to defeat the so-called “marriage amendment” and what the next steps may be to continue to leverage the momentum and resources the campaign developed on behalf of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

Staff from Equality Virginia and The Commonwealth Coalition will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about what to expect in the coming weeks and months. This is one meeting in a series of five community meetings across the state.

Speakers include:
Claire Gastanaga, Commonwealth Coalition Campaign Manager
Dyana Mason, Equality Virginia Executive Director
Dave Noble, Political Director for the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Jay Squires, Equality Virginia Board Chair
Kris McLaughlin, AGLA President
Paula Prettyman, Equality Fairfax President

Logistics:
The NRECA Conference Center is located across from Macy’s at the Ballston Common Mall, at 4301 Wilson Boulevard, just two short blocks from the Ballston Metro station. Free parking for the meeting is available in the NRECA garage, accessed from North Taylor Street. The garage closes at 10:00 p.m., so if you’re planning to stay for the mixer, consider parking instead at Ballston Common Mall’s garage, accessible from North Randolph Street or Glebe Road, for just $1.00 for the night. Or, use free street parking if it’s available.

Attend Post-Meeting Mixer: Folks can gather at Chevy’s, starting at 9 p.m. for a pay-as-you go mixer. Mingle with people who attended the meeting and those who couldn’t make the meeting but want to catch up. [Chevy's donates 20 percent of what we spend to AGLA.]

NRECA Building
4301 Wilson Blvd
Arlingotn, VA

May 5, 2006
5:00 pm	to	11:00 pm

Join Equality Fairfax and Equality Loudoun at the Kate Clinton show. She has been an out political humorist in our community for 23 years.

Come say hello to our abassadors as we socialize in the Gonzo bar begining at 5pm till the show starts.

Doors open to the Hall at 6pm; the show starts at 7:30 pm.

More than half the tickets have already been sold. So, go quickly to www.birchmere.com and purchase you tickets to this quaranteed sold out event.

Please RSVP to let us know you will be joining us.

The Birchmere
3701 Mt. Vernon Ave
Alexandria, VA, 22305

If I had any doubt that the attacks against us by some politicians and clergy were all a case of a misunderstanding gone wrong, those doubts have been erased. After listening to them directly, I can only come to one conclusion. They are homophobic. I don’t mean that they are uncomfortable around gay people though that was certainly true. I mean they truly seem to hate us. This was something of a surprise to me because I don’t understand how someone could hate a group of people just because they exist. Because I didn’t understand this, I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I believed they were educable. I believed this was true because my own friends and family took my own revelations in stride although not without their own coming-to-terms process.

Now, after listening to them speak, I’ve had to reassess. For whatever reason, this is personal to them. They feel like they are literally on a mission from God and that we are abominations.

On September 19th, I, along with several others from Equality Fairfax and Equality Loudoun listened to Senator Cuccinelli and Delegate Black at McLean Bible Church. I listened to them claim we wanted to rip society apart and compare us to terrorists. Delegate Black took particular pride in keeping “notorious homosexuals” out of the military during his tenure there and is intent on keeping us out of every aspect of society he can prevent us from entering. Though they kept saying they wanted to protect marriage they never spoke about how they were protecting it but instead constantly attacked and denigrated us.

According to Black and Cuccinelli, we are “unnatural” and our marriages are “biological impossibilities”. Black claimed that love was “not sufficient” to justify marriage. After all, we love our parents. We love our pets. But, we don’t marry them. For Black, gay marriage is incest and bestiality, not love and family.

The words were strident, delivered as facts but with no support and intended to inspire fear. But, though they are ridiculous arguments, we can’t afford to dismiss them. If this amendment makes it through the General Assembly, it could go before voters as early as November 2006. Our fates will be decided by people, who, for the most part, have never met an openly gay person. Now, there’s a scary thought.

The Blacks and Cuccinellis of the world know that they can use that fear of the unknown to push through their agenda. It’s worked every time they managed to get it past a legislature. We have two chances to stop this. The first is in the legislature in 2006 and the second would be at the polls. It’s an uphill battle in both cases, and there is only one way we can win: by coming out. We have to replace that fear of the unknown with the knowledge that some of the people who fill their lives are gay. Seventeen states have proven that calm and rational arguments, no matter how well-considered won’t connect with the general population. We have to make it personal.

We need to come out to our legislators. We need to tell them why this amendment hurts us. The odds are good that they really don’t know unless they either already understand the damage it would do or are firmly in Black and Cuccinelli’s camp. We have to tell them. Then we have to tell them again. Don’t just write an email to your delegate and senator. Start a conversation. Make sure they know you as a person. Make them understand this affects your children. Meet them in person. Don’t attack them. Many won’t understand at first. It will take time for them to shift their positions. Work with them and don’t antagonize them. But, keep at them.

We also need to come out to our coworkers and colleagues. While this is not without risk, how can we expect people to vote with us if they have no personal stake in the issue? The only way most people will care is if they know someone this affects. It has to become personal for them as well as us.

Now, here is a bit of good news. The amendment meeting was not well attended. In Fairfax County, the amendment doesn’t have a lot of mindshare. This was confirmed when I helped Equality Virginia canvas on gay marriage in Fairfax. Few people were even aware of the amendment. The better news is that once they knew of it, it was almost 3 to 1 against the amendment, but we need to give those people a reason to go to the polls. That reason is their personal relationship with us.

As an example of how this can be done, I spoke with a coworker who lives in Black’s district about why I thought he should not vote for Black. He was surprised because his opinion on Black was based on issues like transportation. I told him I really didn’t know what Black’s record was on transportation but his record on social issues was abysmal. As I went into details, he commented that I seemed passionate about the issue. I told him that was because it affected me personally. I don’t know how he’s going to vote but I do know that he’s going to think about his vote now. That wouldn’t have happened before our conversation. With luck, he’ll see the evil of Black’s social record as more important than any other good he may have done.

It takes people time to process this and to understand that we are not a threat to them and their families. We can’t start this process a week before the amendment is on the ballot. We have to start now so that people can be with us when it matters.

November 6, 2005
2:00 pm	to	5:30 pm

On Tuesday, November 8, Virginia voters will go to the polls to choose their next Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, all 100 members of the House of Delegates and many local elected seats, such as county supervisors.

With so many critical issues facing the state’s gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community, it is critical that the GLBT community and friends turn out to vote!

Equality Virginia has scheduled a set of Get Out the Vote phonebanks statewide to help turn out our members and supporters to the polls! Please join us for this fun and empowering evening!

This is a cell phone party. Bring your cell phones and extra minutes for the fight for equality!

Please RSVP and receive directions at info@equalityloudoun.org.

St. James United Church of Christ
10 East Broad Way
Lovettsville, VA, 20180

September 9, 2010

7:39 am

Enjoy an autumn day in the countryside tasting wine. Join Equality Fairfax for a private group wine tasting at Tarara Winery. We will sample 10 different wines, seated with our own host/hostess with a complementary souvenir Tarara logo wine glass. The tasting will be followed by a tour of Tarara’s unique wine cave. Bring a picnic lunch, or cheese/crackers available for purchase. Box lunches (Sandwich, chips, salad & desert) can be pre-ordered for $13.

Space is limited, so select the ‘volunteer’ link to let RSVP.

Tasting starts at 11:00am so please arrive at Tarara by then.

Tarara Winery
13648 Tarara Lane
Leesburg, VA 20176