Equality Fairfax

May 30, 2009

8:00 pm

Come See the Show!
Equality Prince William, Equality Fairfax and the Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance have banded together to buy a block of 20 tickets to go see RENT! Crazy fun, right?!

Here are the details:

RENT
The Warner Theatre
Saturday, May 30, 2009
513 13th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
8:00pm showtime

Our block of tickets is going to sell out very quickly. If you’re interested in reserving one or more tickets, email Renae Lupini at renae.lupini@gmail.com and she’ll coordinate with you.

AGLA, EPW and EF will likely be planning either/both a meetup beforehand or afterwards for conversation and discussion. We’ll email the participants about these plans directly!

December 13, 2008

7:30 pm

Come join Equality Prince William, our friends and allies for our 5th Annual Holiday party!

At the home of Jim O’Connor and Hank Odum 
7204 Ridgeway Drive
Manassas, VA 20112
(703) 791-3479

Saturday, December 13, 2008
7:30pm – ??

Again this year, Equality Prince William’s holiday charity is ACTS / Turning Points. Located in Dumfries, Turning Points is the only Domestic Violence Prevention and Intervention Program in Prince William  County. Turning Points mission is to eliminate domestic violence in the Greater Prince William County Area by empowering victims to build lives free of violence through shelter, resources and education, providing batterers with alternatives to violence classes and educating youth about healthy relationships and to communicate to the larger community the impact domestic violence has on its citizens.   More information is available at http://www.actspwc.org/Programs/turning_points.asp.

Equality Prince William is participating in the ACTS/Turning Points ”Adopt a Family for the Holidays” program. Won’t you help?  We will be accepting donations at the holiday party for our ACTS / Turning Points family in either cash or gift form.  The family this year that we’re sponsoring are residents of the ACTS/Turning Points facilities, a father and his three children.  The children’s ages are 9, 14 and 16.  Please consider a small donation so that this family can have a memorable holiday!

Please RSVP to Jim at KJamesOConnor@comcast.net!  Please feel free to bring your favorite alcoholic beverage to share, if you’d like.

November 16, 2008
12:00 pm	to	2:00 pm

Equality Prince William and Equality Fairfax Host Pot-Luck Brunch and Estate Planning Workshop

EF is joining forces with EPW to learn about estate planning over brunch.  Come, eat, socialize, and get some info about estate planning. Come alone or with friends, the more people we have the more fun it is for everyone who attends.

Estate Planning Workshop:  What Can We Do In Virginia?

We are pleased to have respected estate planning attorney Elizabeth Munro von Keller of the Von Keller law firm in Manassas available to lead a discussion on the basics of estate planning for GLBT individuals, couples, and their families.  Elizabeth will cover basic (and not-so basic) steps you can take to make sure your wishes are respected and your rights are maintained.  Please come with your questions!

Please RSVP to Brian at brian@equalityprincewilliam.org and let him know what dish or side you’ll be bringing – if you don’t know, ask and he’ll give you some ideas.

Location:

Bull Run Swim & Racquet Club Conference Center

8101 Seymour Road

Manassas, VA 20109

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).

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 1, 2008
12:00 pm	to	4:00 pm

Equality Fairfax is joining Equality Prince William at the 27th Annual Vintage Virginia Wine Festival on Sunday afternoon, June 1st at Bull Run Park.

We’ll find a nice place to set up a picnic blanket and spend the afternoon socializing and tasting wines. Over 50 VA wineries will be on hand for tastings and a variety of food will be available too.

Tickets are $25 (in advance from website)/$30 (at the gate) and include unlimited tasting from all of the Virginia Winery booths. Further information on the festival can be found at http://atwproductions.com/index.php?pr=vvhome

We plan on meeting at the venue.

For more information or to RSVP, please email Joey Seiger-Cottoms at joey@equalityprincewilliam.org.

August 3, 2007 9:00 pm

to

August 4, 2007 12:00 am

Come dust off those vocal cords at Equality Prince William and Equality Fairfax’s quarterly Karaoke nights! No RSVP needed – just show up and have a song picked out – or just have fun watching everyone else!

Friday, August 3, 2007

Skinifatz Restaurant & Nightclub
10712 Richmond Highway
Lorton, VA 22079

http://www.skinifatz.com

Time: 9pm – ???

Skinifatz is located on Route 1, literally just over the Occoquan River from Woodbridge.

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

August 5, 2006

12:00 pm

The Commonwealth Coalition, Equality Prince William and Bull Run Unitarian Universalists Present …

A Rally in Prince William Against The Marshall/Newman “Marriage” Amendment!

With special guests:

• Earnie Porta, Mayor, Town of Occoquan
• Jeanette Rishell, Candidate, Virginia House of Delegates (50th-Manassas, Manassas Park)
• Dr. Bruce Roemmelt
• Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, Bull Run Unitarian Universalists
• Arthur “Rusty” von Keller IV and Elizabeth Munro von Keller, Family Law & Contracts Attorneys
• Guardian ad Litem, Manassas
• And more speakers TBA

Why: To rally support and join forces between multiple organizations to defeat the insidious, hurtful consitutional amendment on the ballot in Virginia this November. You can read about the amendment and what it does at http://www.votenova.org/resources. THIS IS WINNABLE ~ come and find out how you can help! Information will be available on voter registration efforts as well as resources on how folks can work to defeat this amendment.

Remember why we are fighting – the proposed Constitutional Amendment on the ballot in November:

That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.

This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.

Okay, I’m coming! So now what: RSVPs are not required but are greatly appreciated, and can be sent to Brian Pace at brian@equalityprincewilliam.org or Elizabeth Kreamer at elizabeth.kreamer@verizon.net.

Bull Run Unitarian Universalists Sanctuary
9350 Main Street
Manassas, VA, 20110