Thursday, January 16, 2014

Richmond Times Dispatch Endorses Pro Gay Legislation

The always bitter and hateful Victoria Cobb at The Family Foundation who would like to see gays criminalized and kept as a forever inferior class of citizen recently criticized Virginia Democrats of ignoring the issue of job creation while furthering "divisive social issues."  If anyone has championed divisive social issues over the years it is Cobb and her fellow Christofascists who, if given their way, would make Virginia welcoming only to far right white Protestants, something that makes Virginia increasingly noncompetitive for new and progressive businesses.  Imagine Ms. Cobb's distress in reading today's Richmond Times Dispatch in which the main editorial applauds efforts to increase the civil equality of gay Virginians.  For non-Virginians, the Times Dispatch is among the most conservative newspapers in Virginia.  Ms. Cobb and her fellow hate merchants are truly losing the so-called culture wars when even the Richmond Times Dispatch is supporting expanded gay rights and a repeal of Virginia's gay marriage bans.  Here are editorial highlights:

Terry McAuliffe wasted no time issuing his first executive order as governor. It forbids discriminating in state employment for reasons of race, sex, color, faith, national origin, political affiliation or — significantly — sexual orientation or gender identity.

All fair-minded individuals should cheer McAuliffe’s directive. They also ought to root for legislation in the General Assembly that would permit adoption by gay couples in Virginia. At present, state law allows adoption by straight couples, and by gay or lesbian individuals, but not by gay or lesbian couples. That makes no sense.

Both Democrat Janet Howell and Republican Joseph Yost have introduced measures to permit adoption by “a person other than the spouse of a parent.” The language is written to get around Virginia’s ban on gay marriage. Legislation that would start the process of repealing the state’s marriage amendment — which is written into the constitution — has been introduced as well.

Both proposals will run into opposition, but repealing the marriage amendment faces a tougher uphill climb, despite swiftly changing public attitudes. It would be nice to see them all move forward. But given the staunch social conservatism in the GOP-controlled house, the year’s most significant change in state policy on LGBTQ issues might already have occurred: McAuliffe’s executive order. It’s a small step, but a good one.
I can just envision the spittle that must be flying around The Family Foundation offices today.  Just the thought makes me smile.  The truth is that Ms. Cobb and her cohorts in bigotry are not nice and decent people.  They are bigots and consistently work to undermine the religious freedoms of others.
 

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