State of Virginia Archives: on Civil Rights
Justin Fairfax:
Wrong to honor Robert E Lee in VA state senate
On eve of MLK day: History repeats itself.ÿI will be stepping off the dais today in protest of the Virginia Senate honoring Robert E. Lee," Fairfax tweeted. "I'll be thinking of this June 5,
1798 manumission document that freed my great-great-great grandfather Simon Fairfax from slavery in Virginia.ÿ#WeRiseTogether.
Source: The Hill e-zine on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race
Jan 19, 2019
Ralph Northam:
Ratify the Equal Rights Amendment
If we are going to work together to ensure that every Virginian has equal opportunity for a successful life, that means enshrining equal rights for women and legal protections against discrimination in our laws.
This is not a partisan issue, and legislators from both parties have long championed this idea. Virginia can be the 38th and final state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment this year--it's time we do so.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to Virginia legislature
Jan 9, 2019
Don Beyer:
Support the Paycheck Fairness Act: equal pay for women
On average, full-time working women earn just 77 cents for every dollar a man earns. It's unfair to women and illegal. And it's unfair to families, who in many cases depend on a woman's salary to make ends meet.
That's why I strongly support the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that updates and strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which made it illegal for employers to pay unequal wages to men and women who perform equal work.
Source: 2014 Virginia House campaign website, FriendsOfDonBeyer.com
Oct 10, 2014
Don Beyer:
Full GLBT equality; repeal DOMA; support ENDA
I support full equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. As a member of Congress, I would support legislation that bans job discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. I believe the institution of marriage
should be available to committed, same-sex couples, and I would work to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. I believe equality is not complete until it reaches every aspect of our society, including adoption and immigration sponsorship.
Source: 2014 Virginia House campaign website, FriendsOfDonBeyer.com
Oct 10, 2014
Ed Gillespie:
Maintain state same-sex marriage ban, but leave it to states
Gillespie reiterated his personal opposition to same-sex marriage, but he said it is a state issue: "I respect and love people for who they are," the Republican said. "I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. But I also believe that
as a senator, it's not my role to legislate on that." Pressed, he said he would vote no if a statewide referendum came up to repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriage.Warner switched his position to endorse gay marriage in March 2013.
Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Jul 26, 2014
Mark Warner:
Switched to supporting same-sex marriage in 2013
Gillespie reiterated his personal opposition to same-sex marriage, but he said it is a state issue: "I respect and love people for who they are," the Republican said. "I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. But I also believe that
as a senator, it's not my role to legislate on that." Pressed, he said he would vote no if a statewide referendum came up to repeal the state's ban on same-sex marriage.Warner switched his position to endorse gay marriage in March 2013.
Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Virginia Senate debate
Jul 26, 2014
Ken Cuccinelli:
Government shouldn't redefine marriage
Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Cuccinelli: Strongly Agree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2013 Virginia Governor campaign
Jul 2, 2014
Robert Sarvis:
Government has authority to redefine marriage
Question topic: Marriage is a union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Sarvis: Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2013 Virginia Governor campaign
Jul 2, 2014
Ed Gillespie:
Increase share of African-American vote in midterm elections
Gillespie, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference, said: "We have to acknowledge the historic nature of [the election of] President Obama," especially for the African-American community, he said. But, Gillespie noted, going forward,
Obama's "not going to be at the top of the ticket. That gives us the opportunity to make some headway."He reminded the audience that for a time in the early 2000s, the GOP "increased its share of the black vote" slightly, though "it's kind of pathetic
to be bragging" about going from 9% to 11% support. In the past two elections, however, the GOP has floundered with minority voters. "I think we can increase our share of the African-American vote in the midterm elections.
I believe we definitely can, and certainly in the next presidential election," the Senate candidate said. "And we've got to."
Source: Politico.com coverage of CPAC and 2014 Virginia Senate race
Mar 6, 2014
Robert Sarvis:
Libertarian platform: allow same-sex couples to marry
Sarvis said he will run on a similar platform as last year, including small government, a reduction of spending, legalization of marijuana and allowing same-sex
couples to marry. "Libertarians also want less intervention in foreign policy, so that will be something new for me to focus on," he said.
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2014 Virginia Senate race
Jan 30, 2014
Ed Gillespie:
OpEd: Lobbied for company that paid women 39% less than men
Did you, Virginia, know that Acme, a corporation that handed Ed Gillespie $3 million to lobby in Washington, has received over 50 warnings from the Environmental Protection Agency? Do you, Virginia, realize that
Acme, the infamous corporation that made Ed Gillespie a millionaire, paid women 39% less than men? Well, the jobs that Acme haven't already outsourced to China. Ed Gillespie: betting against America--and women.
Source: The Federalist on 2014 Virginia Senate race
Jan 16, 2014
Ed Gillespie:
Marriage is the legal union of one man and one woman
As RNC chairman, Gillespie was a full-throated supporter of a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He criticized Sen. John Kerry (D-MA) for not voting for the unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act and told African American pastors that
the Republican Party believes marriage "is the legal union of one man and one woman," so the nation "must pursue whatever policy is necessary to protect this institution, including a Federal Marriage Amendment to the United States Constitution."
He endorsed using marriage as a campaign issue in 2012 and observed in 2013, "I don't think you would ever see the Republican Party platform say we're in favor of same sex marriage."Still, Gillespie has said that it is unfair to call the GOP
anti-LGBT because while most Republicans support marriage inequality, many "are also for the benefits of marriage in the legal system that are afforded protections like, for example, hospital visitation rights or survivorship benefits."
Source: ThinkProgress.org on 2014 Virginia Senate race
Jan 16, 2014
Ken Cuccinelli:
Traditional marriage ought to be protected
Asked about gay marriage, McAuliffe said he supported equality and would sign a bill giving gays the right to marry in Virginia if it ever got to his desk. Then he pivoted on Cuccinelli, saying the attorney general had "continually attacked gay
Virginians," referencing the attorney general's remarks on gay lifestyle, and his letter to colleges and universities instructing them to remove sexual orientation from their anti-discrimination language. "There are consequences to mean-spirited,
hateful comments," McAuliffe said, after suggesting that Cuccinelli's position on gay issues and abortion nearly jeopardized Northrop Grumman from locating its corporate headquarters in the state.Cuccinelli said his views on homosexuality or gay
marriage had not changed, but he was ready for the attack. "The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception ... there are lots of Virginians who share my sincerely held beliefs."
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Jul 21, 2013
Ken Cuccinelli:
Homosexuality is against nature and harmful to society
On gay marriage, McAuliffe said he would sign a bill overturning Virginia's ban on such unions if it reached his desk. Cuccinelli was asked whether he stood by comments he made several years ago, that homosexuality was "against nature and harmful to
society."Cuccinelli said that his beliefs about "the personal challenge of homosexuality" had not changed but that as governor, he would strive to make Virginia a place where everyone has equal opportunity.
Source: Washington Post on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Jul 21, 2013
Terry McAuliffe:
Supports marriage equality for gays
Asked about gay marriage, McAuliffe said he supported equality and would sign a bill giving gays the right to marry in Virginia if it ever got to his desk. Then he pivoted on Cuccinelli, saying the attorney general had "continually attacked gay
Virginians," referencing the attorney general's remarks on gay lifestyle, and his letter to colleges and universities instructing them to remove sexual orientation from their anti-discrimination language. "There are consequences to mean-spirited,
hateful comments," McAuliffe said, after suggesting that Cuccinelli's position on gay issues and abortion nearly jeopardized Northrop Grumman from locating its corporate headquarters in the state.Cuccinelli said his views on homosexuality or gay
marriage had not changed, but he was ready for the attack. "The notion that because I believe marriage ought to be protected, because I believe life begins at conception ... there are lots of Virginians who share my sincerely held beliefs."
Source: Richmond Times-Dispatch on 2013 Virginia governor debates
Jul 21, 2013
George Allen:
Gay judges ok; activist judges not ok
On the Virginia General Assembly's late-night vote to reject judicial nominee Tracy Thorne-Begland, a Richmond prosecutor who raises twin children with his same-sex partner, Allen offered subtle differences.Radtke said
Thorne-Begland would have brought an activist gay agenda to the bench. "The biggest problem we have in the country right now is activist judges," she said, noting that a federal judge had overturned a statewide
California referendum that outlawed gay marriage.
Allen said he, too, was averse to judicial activism, but was the only candidate to say sexual orientation should play no role in appointing
judges. "Sexual orientation is not a criteria for qualifying a judge or for disqualifying judges," Allen said. "I just don't want activist judges."
Source: 4-NBC Washington on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 26, 2012
Bob Marshall:
Blocked gay judge's nomination
Allen distanced himself from the rest of the field on whether a homosexual could serve as a judge. All four denounced activist judges, but only Allen said a person's sexual orientation should not be a factor in determining qualification for the
bench. "Judges when I look at them, I look at what are their qualifications," Allen said. "Sexual orientation is not a criteria for disqualifying."But he declined to say whether he supported the successful effort by state
Del. Bob Marshall, another Senate candidate, to block a gay Richmond prosecutor from a district judgeship earlier this month. "It's funny, I didn't hear an answer from our colleague,"
Marshall said. "I've already done it. You've seen it in the papers. It's quite easy to stand here and say you will do and not do things."
Source: Washington Examiner on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 25, 2012
Tim Kaine:
No discrimination against nominating gay judges
The General Assembly blocked a gay judicial nominee's appointment to the bench in Richmond: veteran prosecutor Tracy Thorne-Begland, who came out as gay as a naval officer 20 years ago. [Opponents say he] was unfit for the bench because he had challenged
the military's ban on gays openly serving in the military, advocated for gay marriage & lives with a partner with whom he is raising twins.George Allen said he objected to anti-gay discrimination in principle but refused to take a position on whether
it had played a role in Thorne-Begland's rejection: [selections should be] "based on fidelity to the Constitution and laws--judges should apply the law, not invent it or impose their own political views."
A spokesman for Tim Kaine has equated Thorne-
Begland's rejection to discrimination: "Gov. Kaine believes that the only standard for selecting judges should be their qualifications. This type of discrimination has no place in government, and serves to pit Virginians against one another."
Source: Washington Post on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
May 21, 2012
Tim Kaine:
GOP agenda on gay marriage is divisive social legislation
All four GOP candidates voiced support for the Defense of Marriage Act, which preserves states' rights not to recognize same-sex marriages. Marshall, the General Assembly's most outspoken social conservative, said he would
consider impeaching any judge who refused to uphold the law.A Kaine spokeswoman said, "Their support for divisive social legislation will only cause more polarization and gridlock in our politics."
Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate
Apr 29, 2012
Robert Sarvis:
Supports gay marriage
Q: Do you support same-sex marriage?
A: Yes.
Source: Virginia State Legislative 2011 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2011
Robert Sarvis:
Opposes affirmative action
Q: Do you support affirmative action?
A: No.
Source: Virginia State Legislative 2011 PVS Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2011
James Webb:
Supports civil unions; opposes constitutional ban
Q: Virginia’s ban on gay marriage--are you going to vote for it?WEBB: No, I’m not. It is a bad amendment. The second paragraph is extremely vague.
Q: Are you for gay marriage?
WEBB: I am for civil unions and I’m opposed to the amendment.
Q:
Are you for civil unions?
MILLER: I support civil unions and I also oppose the amendment. This is the first time Virginia’s have ever considered an amendment which would limit the rights of individuals. It is a bad idea and I oppose it.
Source: Virginia 2006 Democratic Senate Primary debate
Jun 9, 2006
Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021