Equality Fairfax

With a new year comes a new meeting of Virgina’s General Assembly in Richmond. Each year Equality Fairfax participates with Equality Virginia in Lobby Day – an opportunity for us to visit our legislators in Richmond and discuss legislation and issues. This is a significant chance to:

• Advocate for pro-equality laws for all LGBT people in Virginia
• Make our legislators aware that we’re here and we care about the issues
• Put a personal face on the important issues that affect us

Equality Fairfax will make sure we meet with each of the delegates and senators for Fairfax County. But, without constituents from the actual districts we can’t drive the point home – that’s why we need everyone to attend! It’s important that your delegate and senator know that YOU are from their district – they represent you, and you’re making your voice heard. It’s an easy but important process.

Mark your calendars and make appropriate preparations to take off work so you can join us for this crucial day of the year. We’ll update with more information as the date gets closer.

Registration is now open for Lobby Day! Sign up here.

On January 24th about 15 folks from Fairfax County went down to Richmond for a day of lobbying the Virginia legislature about issues important to the GLBT community.

We had a great day, meeting with all Fairfax County senators and delegates, or their legislative aids.  Everyone we spoke with supported at least one of the bills that will protect GLBT citizens of Virginia, with the overwhelming majority supporting our entire list of introduced bills.

While we will have to wait to see what the outcome will be, at least we know that our representatives in Fairfax are behind us!

Not only did we meet with our representatives, we also watched part of the Senate and House sessions and stood as a group when we were introduced to the legislative bodies.  During the afternoon, we split up, attending various workshops, including a Transgender Caucus. 

Several of us stayed for the evening reception, where we chatted informally with the senators and delegates (an excellent showing from Fairfax County) and met Governor Tim Kaine.

A fantastic, worthwhile day!  We hope to see you at Lobby Day 2009!

Wednesday Was a Good Day for Equality

On Wednesday, January 17, over 200 Equality Virginia members and supporters attended the annual Lobby Day and Legislative Reception in Richmond.

The day started off with the good news that the Anti-GSA bill, HB 1727 (Del. Matt Lohr, R-Harrisonburg), was defeated in the House Education Committee by a tie vote of 10-10.  Please take a moment today to thank the members of the Committee who voted against this misinformed bill by clicking here.

(Unfortunately, there is one other similar bill, HB 3047 patroned by Del. Mark Cole [R-Fredericksburg] that is expected to be heard by the same committee in the next week or two. The thank you letter references this bill, so please keep in touch with committee members and help keep gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied youth from being prevented from being able to start or participate in GSAs)

After a brief training with Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Vienna) speaking to the volunteers, participants spent most of the rest of the day meeting with legislators and their aides from across the Commonwealth to encourage them to support legislation that will protect our rights and our families.

The day was capped off with an incredible Legislative Reception, with nearly three dozen Delegates and Senators stopping by and brief remarks from Del. Adam Ebbin (D-Arlington).  We also had a visit from the Governor, who mingled with the crowd getting to meet many of our volunteers.  It was a wonderful way to wind down after a good day.

A special thanks to everyone who was able to attend Lobby Day and/or the Legilsative Reception, who participated in E-Lobby Day, who wrote the Education Committee members, or forwarded any of the information on to their friends, family and colleagues.

We will continue to track and monitor all legislation affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Virginians, so stay-tuned and keep involved!  Your help will continued to be needed during this session and beyond!  

Register today to attend Equality Virginia’s Lobby Day and Legislative Reception

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

Register on line at EV’s website

Please join EV and hundreds of supporters of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community as we go to Richmond to meet with our elected officials. This is your opportunity to talk face-to-face with the people who represent you in the General Assembly.

Last year, nearly 500 people attended, making it the largest LGBT Lobby Day in Virginia’s history. Following the passage of the Marshall-Newman Amendment, this year’s Lobby Day will allow us to show the General Assembly our continued strength and our spirit. Your participation will make a difference! Please plan to attend BOTH OR EITHER of the Lobby Day training and reception.

Lobby Day Location:
Training at Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

Reception Location:
Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
804-692-3500

One of the most important and easiest activities for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community and our friends is to participate in Lobby Day! Last year, nearly 300 supporters roamed the halls of the Capitol, and we spoke to every member of the General Assembly or their staff.

Help us defeat expected attacks as we fight for Equality in the General Assembly!

Register today for the 2006 Lobby Day! No experience necessary, as new volunteers will lobby with those more experienced.

Schedule of Events (all times are currently tentative and subject to change):
8:00 am Prayer Breakfast sponsored by People of Faith for Equality in Virginia.
9:30 am Lobby Day Training,
10:30 am – 4 pm Lobby your Legislators, attend committee meetings, watch the session!
5:30-7:30 pm Annual Legislative Reception.

Richmond City Hall
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA, 23219

Equality Fairfax is one of several sponsors of Equality Virginia’s lobby day on January 13th. We strongly encourage everyone to take the day off of work and attend this important event for equality. You do not need experience, just a willingness to stand up for yourself, your loved one or GLBT equality. We need a large number of participants.

This is shaping up to be a significant event, but the most important aspect is turnout. We need everyone who can possibly attend to be there. Political strength lies in numbers and, thus far, our opponents have been able to show more numbers. It really is as simple as that. We need hundreds of Equality supporters. No experience is needed; we’ll meet with legislators in groups and walk the halls with buttons to identify ourselves to everyone.

Plan for the day

We know it seems like a long day, but it will be a busy day. Pack a lunch and drive yourself to Richmond (be there by 9:00am for check-in and training) or ask us about a car pool from No VA. We’ll make a group appearance in the House and/or Senate gallery, have meetings with legislators, eat lunch and attend an afternoon visibility event.

Why is this event important?

We know the 2005 General Assembly session is going to very actively debate legislation that directly impacts our lives. There will be several versions of a constitutional amendment keeping the GLBT community from marriage equality, protections against hate crimes and discrimination, repeal of or modifications to HB751, health insurance coverage for partners of GLBT employees, etc. And it’s very likely more legislation will be introduced.

Constitutional Marriage Amendment

There are likely to be several versions of a state constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage in Virginia. The only one submitted thus far is HJ 538, prohibiting marriage between same-sex couples but not addressing civil unions. Bills prohibiting civil unions will be introduced in the next few weeks.

Health Care Bill

Virginia is the only state that prohibits private employers from adding any household members outside of a spouse and dependent children to a group health plan. This leaves thousands of Virginians without access to private health insurance, increasing the potential burden on taxpayers of Virginians without health insurance. It also adversely affects the competitive position of Virginia small and mid-sized companies.

Repeal of Crimes Against Nature Law

In July 2003, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Virginia’s current sodomy law and those of the 12 other states in which they still exist are unconstitutional intrusions on the right to privacy enjoyed by all citizens. The Supreme Court held that government has no business regulating private consensual behavior between adults.

Repeal of HB 751 (“Marriage Affirmation Act”)

The Affirmation of Marriage Act builds on and extends Virginia’s Defense of Marriage Act (limiting marriage to a man and a woman) too far by prohibiting civil unions, domestic partnership contracts and “any other arrangement purporting to bestow the benefits of marriage,” forcing over 1300 benefits, rights and obligations of marriage out of reach for gay and lesbian citizens. In addition, it attacks the constitutional right to contract for any same-sex partnership.

Human Rights Ordinance in Fairfax County

For the fifth year in a row, in spite of pressure to not “rock the boat” in Richmond and this bill’s probable fate, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted 7-2 to include a request for the authority to add sexual orientation to the county’s Human Rights ordinance.

Let’s visit with our legislators and show the Board of Supervisors we’re willing to support ourselves. Additionally, a bill to approve a “Traditional Marriage” license plate has been introduced. This is a short legislative session and even so, the General Assembly will likely choose to spend precious time debating and legislating our lives. Please prioritize responding to attacks on our community by taking the day off work and coming to Richmond. You need not have any experience “lobbying.” The main objective is to have as many GLBT and allied people there as possible so that we have an unmistakable presence in the galleries and halls. Let’s take this opportunity to thank the legislators who support us and show them we’re fighting for ourselves. Let’s show those who don’t support us that our community is concerned, involved and counting down the days to the end of discrimination in Virginia. More information is available at http://EqualityVirginia.org. Please tell everyone you know. We need a crowd of Equality Lobbyists! Please pass this email around to everyone you know. See you in Richmond!