As a member of the Legends Committee one of my assigned tasks was to write an op-ed piece for publication in the local media if possible. Today the Daily Press which covers the Peninsula area of Hampton Roads and the Williamsburg area ran a version of the op-ed that points out that ALL Virginians benefit when citizens are all treated with equality. Unfortunately, it is not a view held by many in the GOP in Virginia, including Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell and Ken "Kookinelli" Cuccinelli who would prefer to keep LGBT Virginian's treated like third class citizens and, in the case of Kookinelli, criminalized. It's a sick state of affairs and demonstrates the small mindedness and bigotry of Virginian's current crop of statewide office holders who share a mindset not all that different than those who inflicted "Massive Resistance" on the state several decades back. The degree of pettiness of McDonnell is evidenced by his refusal to sign a certificate congratulating this year's Legends honorees - something his predecessor was happy to do. In the process, McDonnell has slighted two wonderful individuals who contribute much to the community and an entire church congregation. Here's the op-ed from the Daily Press in its entirety:*
Equality Virginia believes in a truly inclusive commonwealth where all are equally welcomed and valued, where Virginians will be evaluated only on the basis of their skills and work and do not face workplace discrimination, and where all people can safely be honest about themselves.
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For the last four years, Equality Virginia has recognized Virginians in the Hampton Roads area who share this vision and engaged in community activism to further this goal. The individuals are the "Legends" who are recognized at a gala event each November. Past honorees include Ann Dearsley Vernon, who is active in the region's arts community and was engaged in the 1960s civil rights movement; state Sen. Yvonne Miller, the first African-American women elected to the Virginia General Assembly; Claus Ihlemann, civic benefactor and well-known business owner; and Cynthia Cutler, a mortgage loan officer and activist in numerous charitable organizations.
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The 2010 individual honorees are Laurel Quarberg and Sarah Munford, owners of The New Leaf Florist in Ghent in Norfolk and activists in numerous local, non-profit organizations and charities ranging from the Ghent Business Association to Equality Virginia to the Hampton Roads Community Foundation.
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This year the Legends Gala will also recognize an area institution or organization that has been leading the effort for equality for all. The recipient is St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Hampton, which has championed the "all are welcome" message for many years.
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One might ask why and how these "legends" for equality are important to the larger Hampton Roads populace. The answer — besides the fact that equality for all is the morally right thing to do and in keeping with the founding documents this commonwealth — is that equality, diversity and tolerance lift up an area in terms of economic and business development and spur innovation.
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In a recent column, researcher Richard Florida noted that while politicians and voters continue to debate whether lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people have the right to marry, adopt children or serve openly in the military, a growing body of research suggests that considerable benefits accrue to cities and areas that have sizeable, visible concentrations of LGBT residents. Data show that income levels are higher, as are many quality of life measures including the arts and tourism.
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Florida concedes that the presence of LGBT people isn't in and of itself a sufficient condition for wealth creation. However, the data clearly confirm that places that attract gay people and lesbians tend to have the same open-minded attitudes and business styles that foster innovation.
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The research indicates that a visible LGBT community is a "canary in the coal mine," signaling openness to new ideas, new business models, and people open to different perspectives. These are precisely the characteristics of a local economic system that can attract cutting-edge entrepreneurs and new companies.
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While Virginia continues to pride itself in ranking among the top states for business, the nation and the world are changing rapidly. Just this summer Argentina joined Canada — which has been significantly outperforming the United States in terms of job creation and enjoying rising real estate values — in permitting same-sex marriage. Equality is on the march around the world, and Virginia cannot sit back on past laurels. Comparatively low taxes and a "pro-business" legal framework in the future may not be enough to tip the balance in favor of a business' decision to locate in Virginia. Equality for LGBT citizens is spreading among Virginia's economic competitors. Meanwhile, LGBT citizens in Virginia are still subject to firing from their jobs at will and lack the rights afforded to all citizens by more and more states and nations.
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Equality Virginia's "legends" recognize this changing world and the reality that full equality for all Virginians is the way of the future. Indeed, past "legends" and this year's honorees have embraced this unstoppable future and have labored to move Virginia forward.
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These forward-thinking "legends" for equality will be honored on Nov. 6, 2010, at a black-tie gathering. Information on the gala event and how to purchase tickets or be a sponsor can be found at http://www.equalityvirginia.org/upcoming-events/hampton-roads-legends.html
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