Virginia's On-Going Publicity Nightmare

While true believing Kool-Aid drinkers like Attorney General Ken "Cooch" Cuccinelli probably could care less, thinking Virginians and business leaders ought to be very concerned about the daily onslaught of news coverage of the anti-gay jihad set into motion by Governor Bob McDonnell who excluded sexual orientation from his executive order applicable to state employees and Attorney General Cuccinelli who has directed all public colleges and universities in Virginia to rescind non-discrimination protections based on sexual orientation. The Internet is literally chock full of news articles on the topic and we are not just talking about LGBT publications and news websites and blogs. In addition to the Washington Post coverage I have previously mentioned is U. S. News & World Reports that is carrying an article entitled "Virginia Republicans Back to Gay Bashing and Bedroom Policing." Then in the gay media world, there is Monday's Michelangelo Signorile Show with the title "Virginia's Alarming Gay Purge." Michelangelo's show is heard through out the USA and Canada. Do "Cooch" and "Taliban Bob" really think no one is watching? The Virginia Tourism Authority should be terrified by such coverage. How many tourists from rationale areas of the country - especially gay tourists who out spend their straight counterparts - will want to visit Virginia? Here are highlights from U.S. News:
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[T]he great state of Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, the Washingtons and Lees and other heroes, where a newly-elected Republican attorney general has decided that what the commonwealth really needs is a good dose of discrimination, harassment and hate crime.
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When the Republicans in Virginia staged a comeback last fall, they did so by persuading independent voters that the GOP had given up its desire to police our bedrooms, and would focus instead on pragmatic solutions for serious issues, like the dearth of jobs, the cost of education and the surplus of traffic. Here was the model for a Republican resurgence in 2010, the wise guys in Washington said.
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But the paint wasn't dry in the office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II before he jumped at the chance to indulge in gay-bashing. . . . King Cuccinelli II knows what he is doing, of course. He's thrilling the bedroom cops of the Pat Robertson-Jerry Falwell wing of the Republican Party.
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As for Michelangelo's show, here are highlights from his blog, The Gist:
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In a letter sent out to Virginia colleges and universities Thursday, Virginia's Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is taking an aggressive conservative stance, urging state universities and colleges to reverse anti-discrimination policies they have in place, saying they have no legal authority to do so in Virginia since the state has no policies in place. This comes on the heals of new Republican Gov. McConnell's reversal of anti-discrimination policies in state employment protect gays. Joining us to talk about this horrifically anti-gay push is Claire Gastanaga, legislative council with Equality Virginia.

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For those who would like to share their thoughts with the Virginia Tourism Authority, the contact information is as follows (I urge readers to take the time to blow up the Authority's phone and e-mail with your comments):
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Virginia Tourism Corporation
901 E. Byrd St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Telephone: (800) VISIT VA
(800-847-4882)
Email: VAinfo@helloinc.com