Del. Bob Marshall: Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation is NOT A "Manufactured Issue"

Del. Bob Marshall continues to prove that he is a foul, homophobic a**hole.  As reported by the Northern Virginia Times, Marshall continues to want to extend licenses to discriminate laws in favor of Christofascists so that they can discriminate against LGBT Virginians (and probably others who offend their feigned religious sensibilities).   Worse yet, Marshall says that discrimination based on sexual orientation is a "manufactured issue."  Obviously, Marshall is blind to instances like when I was forced from a law firm that did not want an openly gay member of the firm since it might "offend the sensibilities of conservative clients." Anti-gay discrimination is very much alive and well in Virginia and I know have a number of friends who lost their jobs for being gay and I continue to receive calls at my office from individuals who have lost their jobs at the hands of "godly Christians."  Thankfully, Marshall is opposed in the November's election by a candidate who is not afraid to call out Marshall's bigotry and to use some brickbats in the process.  Marshall's opponent, Don Shaw (who has a gay son) is asking that people send Bob Marshall a message.  Please sign the petition (I have) and spread the word.  While you are at it, contribute to Don's campaign.  Here are details on the petition:

The Prince William Times recently published a story on the religious freedom bill passed in Indiana and Bob Marshall's similar efforts in Virginia. Below is an excerpt from the story:

Asked Friday if he planned to make another attempt, Marshall said, "I will have to see how completely gutless the Republican leadership is. They don't want to deal with this." Marshall said he considered the effort to extend protections to gays and others based on sexual orientation "a manufactured issue." He said, "Have you ever seen Wal-Mart or K-Mart with a sign saying 'We only serve heterosexuals.' How can you tell? I haven't the slightest idea how to fathom it."

The entire story can be found by clicking here.

Don Shaw believes discrimination based on sexual orientation does exist and is a real issue. Don also recognizes that LGBT rights are both a human rights and an economic issue. Don firmly believes that all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender-identity, or sexual orientation have the right to work, live, and raise a family free of the threat of discrimination simply because of who they are.

SIGN THE PETITION below to tell Bob Marshall that discrimination based on sexual orientation is real and not a "manufactured issue."

We need to send Marshall into retirement in November.  Please support Don Shaw. 

Support Don Shaw - Let's Retire Bob Marshall

Don Shaw and his family

A few days ago I wrote a post about the need to defeat GOP Del. Bob Marshall in November.  Marshall is perhaps one of the most hate-filled homophobes in the Virginia General Assembly and once boasted that he'd like to drive all the gays out of Virginia.  I noted in the post that Marshall has a Democrat challenger who needs our support.  Much to my surprise, I received the following e-mail from Don Shaw, Marshall's opponent:

Thank you for the blog post yesterday.  It's definitely time to Retire Bob Marshall.  He has furthered his anti-LGBT hate agenda at the expense not only of those against whom he campaigns, but also at the expense of progress and economic security here in Virginia.  I'm a strong ally of the LGBT community not only because I'm a Democrat, but because I absolutely believe in equality for all.  As was mentioned in the WaPo article, my 23-year-old son is gay.  I am unequivocal in my assertion that equal rights should not be contingent on his sexual orientation, but on the fact that he is a person.  I also have a 21-year-old daughter who has special needs.  Contrary to what Marshall has said, she is not God's punishment for abortion.  On the contrary, she's a blessing I count fortunate to have received every single day.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention our youngest.  She believes, and I agree, that she deserves equal pay for equal work and that she should be able to make her own healthcare decisions.  My wife is a wonderful and accomplished person in her own right, without whom I wouldn't be where I am today.  My family keeps me grounded and inspired me to step up and run for office to put an end to the continuous social war being waged by Bob Marshall.

Anyway, I wanted to send you a personal note of thanks for picking up on the WaPo story and blogging about it.  I've read some of your entries; I wish I had the time to go back and catch up on all of them.  You have a powerful story in your own right and I thank you for sharing it.  

Please share information about the campaign liberally and encourage those in a position to contribute to do so.  We're fighting the good fight and we will win!  Thank you!

Best,

Don

Don Shaw

Democratic Candidate

VA House of Delegates

13th District

http://www.shawfordelegate.com

PLEASE SUPPORT DON'S CAMPAIGN AND MAKE A CONTRIBUTION (USE THE LINK ABOVE) WHETHER YOU LIVE IN VIRGINIA OR NOT.  SENDING BOB MARSHALL INTO RETIREMENT WILL PERHAPS SEND A MESSAGE TO THE GOP.

It Is Time to Retire Del. Bob Marshall

Speaking of Republicans who are a scourge on decency, here in Virginia, no one is more anti-gay and opposed to modernity and equality for all citizens than Del. Bob Marshall.  Marshall has been a blight on Virginia's reputation for years and can be relied upon to back every racist and reactionary cause favored by the Virginia GOP.  Indeed, Marshall is usually leading the Virginia GOP effort to return to the 1950's.  Marshall - along with the rest of the House of Delegates - is up for re-election this year and his anti-gay batshitery and support for Indiana's license to discriminate law is rightly becoming an issue in his re-election campaign.  Marshall needs to be defeated and sent into permanent retirement.  The Washington Post looks at how events in Indiana are becoming an issue in Marshall's re-election effort (NOTE: like every good Christofascists, Marshall is lying when he says the Indiana statute is no different than Virginia's statute):

The national firestorm over an Indiana law that some say legalizes discrimination against gay and lesbian people has spilled over into a Virginia House of Delegates race.

Del. Robert G. Marshall (R-Prince William) is defending the Indiana law, to the chagrin of his Democratic challenger, Don Shaw, who called the effort “offensive.”

“Virginia has the same law. We passed it in 2007. The sky did not fall!” Marshall wrote in a letter to the Indianapolis Star.

Marshall wrote the letter in response to one that Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) wrote to the newspaper imploring Indiana businesses to consider relocating to Virginia for its “open, inclusive and thriving business environment.”

Shaw and the governor’s office said there are significant differences between Virginia’s law — and similar ones in other states — and the law under scrutiny in Indiana.

They say Indiana’s law was designed to give private companies legal cover for discrimination against gay and lesbian people, while Virginia’s law seeks to protect an individual’s freedom of religion from government intrusion.

Shaw said he is running in part to support laws protecting his 23-year-old son, who is openly gay.  “Bob Marshall wants to basically allow people to discriminate against my son and I don’t think that’s right,” he said. “I want to live in a robust and thriving Virginia economy and I believe Bob Marshall is doing everything he can do to prevent that.”

During the recent legislative session, Marshall introduced two bills that Shaw said mirror the Indiana law.  One would have blocked McAuliffe from making nondiscrimination against people because of their sexual orientation a condition of entering into a government contract. The other said anyone who gets a license or authority from the state would not have to serve or counsel same-sex couples if he or she has moral or religious objections.

Marshall, one of the most conservative members of the Virginia House, was the author of Virginia’s now defunct 2006 ban on same-sex marriage.

Businesses in Marshall's district need to make it clear that Marshall is a liability to economic growth and prosperity and that he must be defeated in November.

MAKE A DONATION TO SHAW'S CAMPAIGN HERE.