State Senate Candidate Forum

Posted on September 25, 2007 by Linda

Equality Fairfax is hosting a discussion forum for the Virginia Senate on Thursday, September 27th at MCC NOVA in Fairfax County.

If you live in the 34th Senate District (Vienna, Oakton, Fairfax, Fair Oaks), then you have a choice between the incumbent Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis and challenger Chap Petersen. Both candidates will be at the forum.

If you live in the 37th Senate District (Centreville, Burke, Fairfax (Government Center & along Fairfax County Parkway), parts of Springfield), you have a choice between incumbent Ken Cucinelli and challenger Janet Oleszek. Senator Cucinelli, not surprisingly, declined to appear but his challenger will be there.

If you live in the 39th Senate District (Clifton, Fairfax Station, Lorton, parts of Springfield, Franconia, and the Occoquan District in Prince William County), then your choice is between the incumbent Jay O’Brien and challenger George Barker. Senator O’Brien declined to attend (again, no great surprise), but George Barker will be in attendance.

If you live in those districts or have friends that live in those districts you may want to attend. It’s a chance to talk to the candidates on the issues that matter to you.

Craig’s List (of Flip Flops)

Posted on September 5, 2007 by Linda

Soon to be ex-Senator Craig is still in the news, this time for saying that just perhaps he is changing his mind about resigning. Just like he’s changing his mind about pleading guilty. And presumably he’s also changing his mind about having anonymous sex in public restrooms.

I don’t know who Senator Craig really is. Until last week I’d never heard of him. But, from watching his actions it looks like he’s a man that reacts from fear instead of someone who makes informed decisions. And it looks like this is a pattern as long as his public service.

During the page scandal of the late 1980′s he released a preemptive press release saying he hadn’t done anything wrong. Funny thing is, nobody had accused him.
When he’s arrested for soliciting sex, he pleads guilty probably hoping nobody would notice.
When it all comes out and he is pressured, he resigns.
He has voted against civil rights for gay people at every opportunity

It is arguable that every single one of those actions has been taken in fear. He probably regrets the first three and uses the fourth to bolster his denial about himself. Nothing feeds self-loathing like whipping those who are brave enough to publicly admit who they are in a hostile environment.

Honestly, I’d love to see him stay in office and run again. His reputation is so damaged that it means his opponent, who is likely to be more sympathetic to civil rights issues is likely to win. But, if I’m right about his motivations, he should resign. He isn’t doing anyone any good. Idaho deserves a senator who has the integrity to serve openly and honestly and who doesn’t live his life reinforcing the closet door.

The Fate of the Hate Crimes Bill and ENDA

Posted on August 30, 2007 by Linda

My congress critter, Congressman Moran, was at the office where I work for about an hour today. At the end of his visit he took questions from us. I asked him about the chances of getting the hate crimes bill and the employment non-discrimination act through congress were. He didn’t seem optimistic because of a threatened veto by Bush.

Just one more reason that January 9, 2009 can’t get here fast enough.

The Candidates on the HRC/Logo Forum

Posted on August 10, 2007 by Linda

Last night, before a national audience, six Democratic presidential candidates participated in a forum that was televised on Logo. It wasn’t a debate; the candidates were on the stage individually being questioned by a panel. They weren’t asked the same questions though there was a fair amount of overlap.

Two Democratic candidates didn’t participate because of scheduling conflicts.

Not one Republican candidate accepted the invitation to participate.

I don’t think this could have happened eight years ago. Not many candidates were willing to be seen as too friendly to LGBT issues and most of them tap danced around the issues. This year there were six on stage at a national gay event and at least one of the Democratic candidates who couldn’t participate is also on record as being very supportive (Senator Biden).

I came in expecting this to be a mostly content free show with softball questions lobbed up to candidates but it wasn’t. They asked good questions and mostly got real answers (by real I mean they didn’t sidestep the question and answer a different question).

Let’s start with the worst of the bunch from my perspective. Bill Richardson looked uncomfortable and floundered a bit. He seemed ill prepared and didn’t impress me. Even so, he’s generally a supportive politician. And he was the worst of the bunch.

Clinton and Obama both are strong supporters of the LGBT rights and really only miss on the marriage issue (both support civil unions). They are willing to settle for civil unions and their answers were a little too politically calculated for my taste.

Edwards is similar except he’s honest about not support marriage. He does support civil unions. I respected his honesty.

Kucinich isn’t as polished as the above candidates but he’s there 100%. He supports marriage rights. Same for Gravel, even though he hasn’t been active in politics for 26 years.

Speaking solely on LGBT issues, I’d rate them in this order:
1. Kucinich, Gravel
2. Edwards
3. Clinton, Obama
4. Richardson

Except for marriage, there isn’t a huge difference though Richardson didn’t come off as being strongly supportive while the others did. Frankly, any of the would be a thousand percent improvement over the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.