Equality Fairfax

OK folks, so here’s what we need you to do over the next few weeks.

 

During the next month we’ll be coordinating efforts to contact all of our county and town elected officials. Shortly after we get started, we’ll also expand to contacting our state delegates and senators about co-sponsoring a statewide non-discrimination bill. Equality Virginia will be working with legislators to introduce a bill in the Virgnia General Assembly in the next session that would make it illegal to discriminate against any public employee based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Local support is crucial to that bill’s success.

 

When we talk to our elected officials, we have three major goals for these contacts and meetings:

 

1. Ask each local elected official to sign a pledge that within their offices and staffs they will not discriminate in their own hiring or employment and promotion practices.
2. Ask each local elected official’s representative body to pass a resolution in support of Equality Virginia’s non-discrimination bill in the legislative package they send down to Richmond. This applies to town and city councils, and to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The constitutional officers for the county and cities should be asked to express support to their respective council or board.
3. Additionally, for Fairfax County officials, to ask them to support the measure to allow the County to add sexual orientation and gender identity to its non-discrimination policies.

Attached to this post is a document with some talking points for you, a few FAQs, a sample resolution to present to your elected officials on town and city councils, as well as to members of the Board of Supervisors. Also in that attached document is a pledge form for every local official to complete and return to Equality Fairfax, as well as a sample letter to the editor in support of a non-discrimination bill.

 

Below are the people that we need to contact. Please take some time in the next few weeks to contact all of those on this list who represent you. Your voice and your concerns matter to your elected officials, and our community and our allies need your chorus of voices to make it clear to our elected officials that they time for action has come.

 

If you are interested in making an appointment with an official, and would like to join others in your visit, please email us at info@equalityfairfax.org, and let us know when and who you’d like to visit, and we will make sure to pair you up with a fellow advocate.

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VIRGINIA

DIRECTORY OF ELECTED OFFICIALS, JULY 2008

 

FAIRFAX COUNTY OFFICIALS

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/

 

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gov/bos/

 

Find Your District Supervisor. Residents have two supervisors — the chairman and a district supervisor. To find the district in which you live, use My Neighborhood to enter your address, click search and then click “My Neighborhood Report.”

 

http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/gisapps/myneighborhood/

 

CHAIRMAN

Gerald E. “Gerry” Connolly (D)

12000 Government Center Parkway

Suite 530

Fairfax, VA 22035-0079

(703) 324-2321

Fax: (703) 324-3955

TTY: (703) 324-2319

E-mail: chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

BRADDOCK DISTRICT

Sharon Bulova (D)

Kings Park Library

9002 Burke Lake Road

Burke, VA 22015

(703) 425-9300

Fax: (703) 503-9583

TTY 711

E-mail: braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

DRANESVILLE DISTRICT

John W. Foust (D)

McLean Governmental Center

1437 Balls Hill Road

McLean, Va. 22101

Phone: 703-356-0551

Fax: (703) 703-821-4275

TTY: 711

Herndon Office

730 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

(703) 471-5076

Fax: (703) 437-3210

E-mail: dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

HUNTER MILL DISTRICT

Catherine M. Hudgins (D)

North County Governmental Center

12000 Bowman Towne Drive

Reston, VA 20190-3307

(703) 478-0283

Fax: (703) 471-6847

TTY: 703-736-4460

E-mail: hntrmill@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

LEE DISTRICT

Jeff McKay (D)

Franconia Governmental Center

6121 Franconia Road

Alexandria, VA 22310-2508

(703) 971-6262

Fax: (703) 971-3032

TTY: 711

E-mail: leedist@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

MASON DISTRICT

Penelope A. Gross (D)

Mason District Governmental Center

6507 Columbia Pike

Annandale, VA 22003-2099

(703) 256-7717

Fax: (703) 354-8419

E-mail: mason@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

MOUNT VERNON DISTRICT

Gerald W. Hyland (D)

Mt. Vernon Governmental Center

2511 Parkers Lane, Suite 2

Alexandria, VA 22306-3294

(703) 780-7518

TTY: 711

Fax: (703) 780-1491

E-mail: mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT

Pat S. Herrity (R)

W. Springfield Governmental Center

6140 Rolling Road

Springfield, VA 22152-1579

(703) 451-8873

Fax: (703) 451-3047

Government Center Office

12000 Government Center Pkwy

Suite 233

Fairfax, VA 22035

(703) 324-2500

Fax: (703) 324-3149

E-mail: springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

PROVIDENCE DISTRICT

Linda Q. Smyth (D)

8739 Lee Highway, Suite A

Fairfax, VA 22031-2198

(703) 560-6946

TDD: 703-207-9407

Fax: (703) 207-3541

TTY: 711

E-mail: provdist@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

SULLY DISTRICT

Michael R. Frey (R)

Sully Governmental Center

4900 Stonecroft Boulevard

Chantilly, VA 20151-3808

(703) 814-7100

Fax: (703) 814-7110

TTY: 703-814-7109

E-mail: sully@fairfaxcounty.gov

 

CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES

 

CLERK OF COURT

John T. Frey (R)

4110 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax, VA 22030-4048

(703) 246-4111

Fax: (703) 352-8934

 

COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY

Raymond F. Morrogh (D)

4110 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 123

Fairfax, VA 22030-4047

(703) 246-2776

 

SHERIFF

S. G. Barry (D)

4110 Chain Bridge Road

Fairfax, VA 22030-4041

(703) 246-3227

Fax: (703) 359-4192

 

TOWN ELECTED OFFICIALS

 

TOWN OF CLIFTON

Clifton Town Hall

12641 Chapel Road

Clifton, VA 20124

(703) 802-0847

 

Mayor:

Thomas C. Peterson

 

Town Council:

Michael F. Anton

Wayne H. Nickum

Deborah L. Dillard

C.M. “Chuck” Rusnak, Jr.

Patrick J. Layden

 

Leave a Message(703) 923-3500
Select
#1 Tom Peterson, Mayor
#2 Michael Anton, Vice Mayor
#3 Deborah Dillard
#4 Pat Layden
#6 Chuck Rusnak
#7 Town Clerk

 

 

 

TOWN OF HERNDON

http://www.town.herndon.va.us

Herndon Town Hall

730 Elden Street

Herndon, VA 20170

(703) 435-6804

 

Mayor:

 

Stephen C. DeBenedittis (703) 435-6804

E-mail: Mayor.Steve@Herndon-va.gov

 

Town Council:

 

Richard F. Downer (703) 870-7257

E-mail: Richard.Downer@Herndon-va.gov

 

Dennis D. Husch (703) 709-5404

E-mail: Dennis.Husch@Herndon-va.gov

 

Connie Haines Hutchinson (703) 437-6366

E-mail: Connie.Hutchinson@Herndon-va.gov

 

David A. “Dave” Kirby (703) 481-6198

E-mail: kirbyforherndon@aol.com

 

William B. Tirrell, Sr (703) 709-7586

E-mail: bill.tirrell@verizon.net

 

Charlie D. Waddell (703) 435-2520

E-mail: charliewaddell@verizon.net

 

TOWN OF VIENNA

http://www.viennava.gov/

Vienna Town Hall

127 Center St. South

Vienna, VA 22180

(703) 255-6300

 

Mayor:

 

M. Jane Seeman (703) 255-6311

E-mail: mayor@viennava.gov

 

Town Council:

 

Laurie G. Cole (703) 281-6956

E-mail: lgcole@viennava.gov

 

Edythe F. Kelleher (703) 242-7651

E-mail: ekelleher@viennava.gov

 

George E. Lovelace (703) 938-8729

E-mail: glovelace@viennava.gov

 

Michael J. Polychrones (571) 221-8764

E-mail: mpolychrones@viennava.gov

 

Maud F. Robinson (703) 938-7375

E-mail: mrobinson@viennava.gov

 

Daniel M. Dellinger (703) 255-2918

E-mail: ddellinger@viennava.gov

 

INDEPENDENT CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS

 

FAIRFAX CITY

http://www.fairfaxva.gov/

City Hall
10455 Armstrong St.
Fairfax, Virginia 22030

(703) 385-7855

 

Mayor:

 

Robert F. Lederer 703-591-8217

E-mail: rlederer@fairfaxva.gov

 

Council Members:

 

Joan W. Cross 703-273-2930

E-mail: jcross@fairfaxva.gov

 

Daniel F. Drummond 703-268-0541

E-mail: ddrummond@fairfaxva.gov

 

Jeffrey C. Greenfield 703-591-2714

E-mail: jgreenfield@fairfaxva.gov

 

David L. Meyer 703-691-8852

E-mail: dmeyer@fairfaxva.gov

 

Gary J. Rasmussen 703-385-2991

E-mail: grasmussen@fairfaxva.gov

 

Steven C. Stombres 703-279-5187

E-mail: sstombres@fairfaxva.gov

 

Commissioner of the Revenue

 

William Page Johnson II 703-273-6130

E-mail: pjohnson@fairfaxva.gov

 

Treasurer

 

Stephen L. Moloney 703-273-6747

E-mail: smoloney@fairfaxva.gov

 

 

FALLS CHURCH CITY

http://www.fallschurchva.gov/

City Hall
300 Park Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22046
TEL: 703-248-5001
TTY: 711
E-mail: city-manager@fallschurchva.gov

 

Mayor

 

Robin S. Gardner (h) 703-534-8644

E-mail: rgardner@fallschurchva.gov

 

Council Members

 

Harold (Hal) Lippman, Ph. D.

Vice Mayor (h) 703-237-9089
E-mail: hlippman@fallschurchva.gov

Nader Baroukh (h) 703-992-9433
E-mail: nbaroukh@fallschurchva.gov

 

Daniel K. Maller (h) 703-731-8433
E-mail: dmaller@fallschurchva.gov

 

David F. Snyder (h) 703-241-0419
E-mail: dsnyder@fallschurchva.gov

 

Daniel X. Sze (h) 703-538-5986
E-mail: dansze@fallschurchva.gov

 

Lawrence Webb (h) 703-532-1043
E-mail: lwebb@fallschurchva.gov

 

Commissioner of the Revenue

Tom Clinton 703-248-5019
E-mail: commissioner@fallschurchva.gov

 

Treasurer

 

Cathy Kaye 703-248-5046
E-mail: treasurer@fallschurchva.gov

 

Sheriff

 

S. Stephen Bittle 703-248-5111
E-mail: sheriff-info@fallschurchva.gov

 

Download Virginia Non-Discrimination Info

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).

This podcast episode is an interview with Gerry Connolly, one of the candidates running for the 11th district U.S. House of Representatives seat.

We had hoped to do a candidate forum with Mr. Connolly and his opponent, Keith Fimian, but unfortunately, the Fimian campaign never responded to our inquiries. Should that change and Mr. Fimian sit down with us and record an interview, we’ll make that audio available on the website.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:50 — 22.4MB)

This year’s election has been quite the show at the Presidential level.  It seems everyone’s talking about it, and that the television, newspaper, and radio coverage of the elections has been concentrated on the race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain.

However, there are several other significant races on the federal level that will be decided partly here in Fairfax County.

First, there is a US Senate race in Virginia between former Governors Democrat Mark Warner, and Republican Jim Gilmore.  This race has really flown under the radar, perhaps because it has not been considered terribly competitive.  Former Governor Mark Warner has been far ahead of former Governor Jim Gilmore in all the public polls, so that may reflect the lack of attention to this race.

Additionally, there are portions of three Congressional districts in Fairfax County.  The 8th District, including the Alexandria, Mount Vernon, and Franconia areas, as well as parts of Falls Church, McLean, Vienna, and Reston, are all included in the district.  The incumbent Congressman is Democrat Jim Moran.  His primary opponent is Mark Ellmore, the Republican.

In Virginia’s 10th District, incumbent Republican Frank Wolf appears to be facing another stiff challenge from DemocratJudy Feder.  There have been plenty of TV commercials already from both candidates, and folks in the McLean, Great Falls, Vienna, Herndon, Oak Hill, and Centreville areas will have a vote in this contest.

And finally, the 11th District, which includes most of Fairfax County, pits current Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Democrat Gerry Connolly, against Republican businessman Keith Fimian.  This race has also garnered a fair amount of television and media coverage, and has also generated a fair amount of television commercials on local stations.

In the 11th District race, since most of the district is comprised of Fairfax County, Equality Fairfax was hoping to produce a candidate forum for members of our community to ask the candidates questions directly.  Both of these candidates can expect to see legislation in the next Congress on a number of important priorities to the GLBT community, and all voters deserve to know where all our candidates stand on those federal issues.  Unfortunately, despite multiple calls and emails requesting participation, the Fimian campaign never responded to our request.  Additionally, follow-up requests to simply interview Mr. Fimian for a podcast were also left unanswered.

However, we are pleased to announce the Equality Fairfax will be providing our members and interested press and community members a podcast interview with Congressional candidate Gerry Connolly.  Truthfully, we would like to be able to hold a similar discussion with candidate Keith Fimian, and ask him the same questions (as well as let him tell us why he’s running for Congress and what he sees as our nation’s most important issues).  However, we are not terribly optimistic about that happening.  Stay tuned for our podcast that should be posted later this evening.

Wherever you live in Fairfax County, take the time to get to know your local candidates, and their positions on issues affecting you.  Equality Fairfax hopes to bring you some information over the next week that should help you in your efforts.

See you at the polls on Tuesday, November 4th!

March 17, 2006
7:00 pm	to	9:30 pm

A straw poll to be taken at the annual Gerry Connolly St Patrick’s Day Gala (fundraiser) on Friday, March 17, 7-9PM will include a Yes/No vote on the Marriage Amendment proposal that will appear on the Fall Election Ballot in November. The annual event hosted by Gerry Connolly (Fairfax County Board of Supervisor Chairman) attracts a large number of local political activists (both Democrats and Republicans) and marks a great visibility opportunity for our community to educate key allies about our efforts to defeat the amendment.

The straw poll will also include the races for US Senator and House of Representatives with most of the candidates attending in person. Equality Fairfax will have a table at the event and we will need some volunteers to help out with handouts. It is a fundraiser for Gerry so a minimum charge of $35 will be collected at the door or in advance. There will be lots of good Irish food and drink provided along with live entertainment and of course a speech or two. Please consider attending the event with your friends and family to vote in the poll and to mingle with many of Fairfax County’s decision makers!! Details can be found at http://www.gerryconnolly.com/ or contact Terry Mansberger, EF Political Dir. at 703-573-0046.

KENA Temple
9001 Arlington Boulevard
Fairfax, VA, 22031

January 31, 2005

7:00 pm

With a week’s notice, 250 gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and allied people rallied to show their support for equality. The meeting was covered by TV Channels 4, 7 and 8, and by several newspaper outlets.

What an amazing show of solidarity in our GLBT and allied community!

People from all walks of life, all ages and faiths came together to find out what they could do to reverse the trend of discriminatory legislation targeted at our community by many in the Virginia General Assembly.

Gerry Connolly, the Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Jay Fisette, Chair of the Arlington County Board of Supervisors, came to show their support for our community.

Rev. Kharma Amos reminded us of Margaret Meed’s famous observation, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

And Candy Cox, Board Member of The Task Force, closed the evening with a speech that empowered, inspired, and jolted the crowd into action.