Endorsements for Tuesday's Virginia Elections

Being an LGBT Virginian is never an easy experience given the current legal climate in the state where LGBT citizens continue to be targets for firing at will by the "godly Christian" folk, our relationships receive zero recognition (indeed, any recognition is banned by state constitutional amendment) , LGBT students remain open game for homophobic bullies, and only a small handful of localities allow for domestic partnership benefits. Some might ask how things could things get worse? GOP control of the Virginia Senate is how. Currently, the most draconian Christianist efforts - such as a person hood status of embryos and pro-gay bullying "anti-bully" legislation such as what was just enacted in Michigan are but two examples - have been thwarted by Democrat control of the Virginia Senate. If that control is lost, there's literally no telling what batshitery will be enacted. Especially anti-gay batshitery. More details on the "GOP agenda" appear after the endorsements.

Former GOP friends complain that I'm a single issue voter - i.e., LGBT issues - but in a state where the civil laws treat you with contempt and most of the current crop of GOP candidates would like to see homosexuality re-criminalized, it becomes rather difficult to over look the anti-gay vitriol that is every present in the GOP agenda in Virginia. EVERY race counts. Here are those who I believe must be supported by the votes of rational, non-bigoted voters on Tuesday. Of equal importance is the fact that making Virginia more backward and reactionary is NOT going to bring the economic growth the GOP claims to desire. If anything, it will have the opposite effect and likely accelerate the exodus of the young college educated class to larger and more progressive areas.

VIRGINIA SENATE 2ND DISTRICT - MAMIE LOCKE. This is my home district. Incumbent Democrat, Mamie Locke has not sent the world on fire during her time in the Senate. But sometimes that's a good thing if the alternative is a crazed Christianist agenda such as that of her challenger Tom Harmon who is guaranteed to be a water carrier for the worse anti-gay, white supremacist elements of the GOP such as Ken Cuccinelli and Del. Bob Marshall. Locke has been a patron on legislation that would give LGBT Virginians anti-discrimination protections. In contrast, Harmon has been endorsed by a veritable who's who of gay haters in Virginia. Given the contrast, MAMIE LOCKE needs to be re-elected.

VIRGINIA SENATE 6TH DISTRICT - RALPH NORTHAM. Incumbent Ralph Northam is both intelligent and as a physician brings to the Virginia Senate one of the lone voices that speaks with actual knowledge on medical issues unlike those in the GOP who look to The Family Foundation for their directions on abortion and a host of other issues. His challenger, Ben Loyola like Tom Harmon has been endorsed by a who's who of the most hateful influences in Virginia and as previously noted his supporters appear to behind a toxic flyer attacking Northam for acknowledging the LGBT Virginians are citizens and worthy of consideration. (More on this issue to come). As in the 2nd District, unless one is a self-loathing closet case, no LGBT voter should be even remotely contemplating a vote for Loyola. We do not need the Christian Taliban mindset strengthened in the Virginia Senate and, therefore, RALPH NORTHAM needs to be re-elected.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES 93RD District - ROBIN ABBOTT. Give the GOP stranglehold on the House of Delegates, it has been difficult for Democrat members to get legislation passed. Anything remotely progressive has been killed by the Christianist/Tea Party minded GOP majority. While Abbott's challenger, Mike Watson is not perhaps as extreme as Harmon and Loyola (extreme, of course, being a relative term with members of the Republican Party of Virginia), his presence in the House of Delegates will only compound the problem of dragging Virginia into the 21st century. Thus, for this reason, if nothing else, ROBIN ABBOTT needs to be returned to the House of Delegates.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES 21ND DISTRICT - ADRIANNE BENNETT. I've known the GOP incumbent, Ron Villanueva for many years. On a personal level, he's not a bad person. At the same time, he's not what one would call a "bright light" and he has proven that he will faithfully vote however Taliban Bob McDonnell and Ken Cuccinelli tell him to vote. And when he's not listening to them, he takes his directives from Victoria Cobb at The Family Foundation. One of Ron's few positives is that he opposes lifting the state ban on uranium mining which could well contaminate Virginia Beach's water supply. Bennett likewise opposes lifting the ban. In addition, she is bright, energetic and understands that dragging Virginia backward in time is not the way to generate jobs or attract new businesses and industries. She also opposes the agenda of the Christian Taliban centered at The Family Foundation. Virginia needs ADRIANNE BENNETT in the House of Delegates.

WHAT A GOP CONTROLLED VIRGINIA SENATE COULD MEAN. The Virginian Pilot looks at what GOP control of the Virginia Senate might mean. Here are some highlights:

Bills to ease restrictions on guns, expand the death penalty, limit abortion, restrict illegal immigrants' access to higher education, and affirm the state's anti-union labor law are among those a GOP-run Senate might treat more kindly.

"If the governor has complete control of the legislature, I think you'll see a dramatically different Bob McDonnell," Virginia Democratic Party Chairman Brian Moran argues. He predicts abortion rights will be curtailed, environmental protections gutted, and government health, public safety and education funding slashed.

What other Republican ideas could advance under that circumstance? . . . . to extend legal rights to fetuses; to grant civil immunity to homeowners who kill intruders; and to give tax credits to businesses that support private school scholarships.

It's not a pretty picture by any calculation - unless, of course, one wants to wipe out the concept of the separation of church and state and allow polluters to run amok.