The Washington Blade has a story (http://www.washingtonblade.com/2007/11-2/news/localnews/11492.cfm) on the re-election race of Bob Marshall, a co-author of Virginia's hateful "Marriage Amendment" who has flat out admitted that he'd be happy if every gay in Virginia packed up and moved from the state. Yep, a homophobe of the highest order who obviously has no respect for the concept of freedom of religion for all citizens. It's live by his religious views or the highway. I truly hope the man is defeated for several reasons, first and foremost, the Virginia General Assembly does not need anyone as vile as Marshall among its membership. Moreover, a defeat for Marshall could be a signal that Northern Virginia is moving further away from electing Christianists to office. Here are some story highlights:
In an election year with no major statewide races, voter turnout could be the key factor in determining whether a stridently anti-gay lawmaker retains his seat in the Virginia General Assembly in next week’s election. “With a low turnout election, those who do turn out to vote will have twice the impact,” said Tom Osborne, treasurer of the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club. “It depends on who is more likely to turn out, those who love Bob Marshall or those who hate him. The trend statewide this time around is Democrats are more motivated than Republicans.”
Roemmelt said he also expects the race to be tight, but that other factors could work favorably for him, such as the tremendous growth in his district — the fastest growing in the state with 10,000 new voters since the last election. “Our job to convince them that I’m the guy and get them out to vote,” he said. “We’ve been contacting voters. I think it’s a great opportunity for them to have choice in the election.”Roemmelt said Marshall’s core supporters are “still flaming passionate” in their opposition to gay issues, especially marriage, but that voters in the middle have moved on to other issues.
Lampo compared the District 13 race to the race between progressive Democrat David Poisson and anti-gay Republican incumbent Dick Black, co-author of the 2004 Marriage Affirmation Act.Marshall and Black have been described as two of the most anti-gay politicians in the General Assembly. Marshall co-authored last year’s Virginia marriage amendment and backed a bill to restrict gay and straight non-married couples from adopting children. Black was defeated in 2005.
If Marshall is defeated, it will definitely merit a champagne toast.
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