Equality Virginia Holds "Productiv"' Meeting with Richmond Mayor

I've made it clear that Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones (pictured above) should not be Democratic Party of Virginia chair if he cannot separate his personal beliefs as a Baptist pastor from the civil laws issues concerning marriage, particularly same sex marriage.   Elected officials are sworn to uphold the Constitution, not the Bible and, if Jones, cannot do that, then not only should he not be DPVA chair, but he also needs to resign as mayor of Richmond. The issue of ones' lack of support for marriage equality has created an unneeded controversy as Democrats head into an important mid-term election cycle.  In close elections, the LGBT vote can and does determine who wins.  Equality Virginia met with Jones and purports that the meeting was "productive."  Here are highlights from the Richmond Times Dispatch:

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s pick for chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia, met Monday afternoon with Equality Virginia.

A spokeswoman for Equality Virginia said the meeting was “very productive.”

The meeting — five days before the party elects its new leader — comes amid concerns in some quarters about Jones because he has not endorsed same-sex marriage.

In a statement issued after the meeting, Jones said that his position on the issue has changed over the years, and continues to “evolve.”

“I reiterated my position that I believe our laws should not be discriminatory. I also had the opportunity to share about my own personal evolution on issues that concern the LGBT community; an evolution that anchors many of the actions I’ve already taken in support of equal treatment. My position continues to evolve,” Jones said.

"However given the recent media attention for his nomination for party chair, it was important today to hear Mayor Jones reiterate his commitment to leading the Democratic Party in seeking the full equality all Virginians deserve. The freedom to marry is a fundamental right and EV Advocates looks forward to working with both parties to ensure that all Virginians can soon marry the person they love in the place they call home. "

LGBT Democrats of Virginia has urged the party to pick a chairman who supports marriage equality. At least five of the party’s Northern Virginia congressional hopefuls have expressed concern about Jones’ candidacy.

State party leaders have rallied behind Jones, including McAuliffe, Attorney General Mark R. Herring — who refused to defend the state’s ban on same-sex marriage — and Democratic leaders in the state Senate and House of Delegates.

Tammy Hawley, Jones’ spokeswoman, said last week the mayor has “always made it clear that he will stand up for all laws that protect constitutional rights” and that he does not believe that Virginia’s laws should be discriminatory. “What he believes in is equal protection under the law for all persons,” Hawley said.

If Jones truly believes in equal protection under the law for all persons, he should support civil law marriage equality.  If he refuses to do so, then he is merely talking out of both sides of his mouth.  Civil law marriage in no way forces his congregation to let go of their backwardness and bigotry within the congregation.   Jones does NOT get to have it both ways.

Dwight Jones Must Take a Stand on Same-Sex Marriage

Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones (pictured at left) personifies the problem of politicians who cannot separate their personal religious views from their roles as politicians in a secular government realm.  Currently a escalating civil war is sweeping the Democratic Party of Virginia thanks to Jones' desire to cling to personal religious beliefs - and not rankle bigots within his church congregation - and flush civil constitutional rights for LGBT Virginians down the toilet.  That Jones is black makes his position all the more ridiculous given that "religious belief" was used for decades if not centuries to justify slavery and then segregation.  Has the man learned nothing?  Jones needs to either support civil law equality or not and stop his disingenuous double speak.  And if he cannot support equality, then he needs to withdraw from consideration as DPVA chair.  It is that simple.  A column in the Richmond Times Dispatch makes a similar argument.  Here are excerpts:

The selection of Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones, a Baptist minister, as chairman of the Democratic Party of Virginia would not be a match made in heaven.

Jones, according to sources, has agreed to accept the unpaid post at the request of Gov. Terry McAuliffe, with an announcement expected this week.

If true, the governor and the mayor may want to rethink this and listen to supporters of marriage equality who feel heartburn at Jones’ waffly posture on same-sex marriage.

Virginia has been riding a progressive wave on the issue of marriage equality since McAuliffe’s Democratic ticket mate, Attorney General Mark R. Herring, announced soon after taking office in January that he would not defend Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage.

In February, a federal judge in Norfolk ruled that the ban is unconstitutional. It appears that the U.S. Supreme Court will have the final say.

Seventeen states now allow legal same-sex unions. Public opinion has shifted dramatically since 2006, when Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage and forbids recognition of such unions performed elsewhere. Polls suggest the ban would be repealed today.

But Jones, mindful of the possible reaction of his flock at First Baptist Church of South Richmond, remains unmoved. He has resisted any bold declarations in support of same-sex marriage.

As for Jones' double speak, the column notes:

The mayor “opposes any kind of discrimination,” said spokeswoman Tammy D. Hawley. “As you may know, he issued the city’s first executive order barring discrimination in city government. He has also honored Richmond’s Transgender Day of Remembrance with a proclamation speaking out against violence and promoting tolerance, understanding, compassion and acceptance of the diversity of any individual or group of individuals.

“The mayor has always made it clear that he will stand up for all laws that protect constitutional rights and that he does not believe that our laws should be discriminatory,” Hawley said. “What he believes in is equal protection under the law for all persons.”

Well, yes, that sounds good. But same-sex couples in Virginia have no rights under our state constitution. They are victims of discrimination who receive unequal protection under the law.  The mayor is equivocating.

He is ensnared in the inherent conflict that faces a faith leader when he moonlights in the secular world of politics.

Jones, meanwhile, appears content to sit out the civil rights movement of the 21st century.  Politics isn’t about single issues, but marriage equality is one of the most important questions facing the nation today. And the platform of the Democratic Party of Virginia could not be clearer:

If his conscience or his congregation won’t allow him to support marriage equality without equivocation, Jones and Virginia Democrats have an irreconcilable difference.

Jones claims that he is against any form of discrimination, but given the 1000 state and federal rights that hindge on "marriage," by opposing same sex marriage, Jones is actively supporting discrimination.  Either the man is a cretin or he thinks the rest of us are.  He needs to stand for full equality or get out of the running for DPVA chair. Again, the issue is that simple.