GOP Controlled Virginia House of Delegates Sinks Gay Judicial Nominee

Send yet another message to the entire world that Virginia is the home of rank bigotry and discrimination  where LGBT citizens are treated like garbage the GOP controlled Virginia House of Delegates killed the nomination of Tracy Thorne-Begland to a General District Court judgeship.  So much for the United States Constitution's prohibition of religious tests for public positions.  In Virginia, it one doesn't meet the religious criteria of the Christofascists in the Virginia GOP, one has no rights.  It's disgusting and why I tell would be newcomers to Virginia to think twice.  Why move to a state where gays are subject to open contempt and discrimination as a matter of state policy.  Note that the Virginia GOP did its dirty work in the wee hours of the morning this morning.  Note too the cowardice of a number of Democrats - something I'll remember the next time I receive a call for money.  Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

The House of Delegates, voting in Tuesday's early morning hours, blocked an openly gay Richmond prosecutor from appointment to a General District Court judgeship in the city.

Tracy Thorne-Begland received 33 yes votes, 31 no votes - all from Republicans - and 10 abstentions in his bid to become what gay-rights advocates said would have been Virginia's first openly gay jurist. Twenty-six House members, including seven Democrats, did not vote.  A minimum of 51 votes in the 100-member House is required for election.

Thorne-Begland, a former Navy pilot who was honorably discharged after publicly disclosing his sexual orientation, was one of only two candidates among scores of judicial nominees not to be approved during a `round-the-clock marathon that lingered from 1 p.m. Monday to 2 a.m. Tuesday.

 

Among Thorne-Begland's fiercest critics was Del. Robert G. Marshall, an outspokenly anti-gay Republican from Prince William who is among four candidates seeking the GOP's U.S. Senate nomination in next month's primary.

Marshall said he opposed Thorne-Begland on grounds that he denied his true sexual orientation in a statement those entering the armed forces at the time were forced to sign in the era before President Bill Clinton instituted the "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward gays in the military.

 Later, Marshall said he also considered Thorne-Begland unfit for the bench because being openly gay clashes with his duty to uphold the Virginia Constitution, which includes an amendment that defines marriage solely as a monogamous union between a man and a woman.

 

Thorne-Begland's chief House defender was also a Republican. Del. Manoli Loupassi, a Richmond lawyer, has known and practiced for years in courtrooms with Thorne-Begland, a successful deputy commonwealth's attorney in charge of handling the capital city's heavy caseloads of homicides, assaults and other violent crimes.

"He's been doing his job and he's been doing it well. He's been protecting us from criminals," Loupassi said. "I have known this man for a very long time and I believe that he absolutely will carry out the duties of his office in a dignified way and a correct way."

Virginia's first openly gay legislator, Sen. Adam Ebbin, D-Alexandria, said he was "ashamed and disgusted" by the "homophobic behavior of the House of Delegates."

Have I mentioned that I hate Virginia?  I'd also note that this kind of rank bigotry is why I cannot support ANY GOP candidate currently.