Tim Kaine on Civil Rights Democratic Senate Challenger; previously Governor

We're still fighting for full LGBT equality

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. In 2006 opposed VA amendment banning same sex marriage. "We're still fighting for full LGBT equality."

Corey Stewart (R): No. Strongly opposes; seeks to overturn Supreme Court legalization. Signed survey to oppose "brainwashing elementary school children with the Homosexual Agenda."

Redefine VA as rainbow coalition instead of Unite the Right

KAINE: Yes.

Q: But it feels, on many of these issues, that it`s very much an open wound. What has actually changed since Charlottesville's [racist attack]?

KAINE: Charlottesville was shocking. At that Unite the Right rally, most of the people arrested for violence that day were out-of-staters who came in to bring their hatred and bigotry. What I see that has changed in Virginia is people saying, "we`re not going to let our state be defined this way." It was seen most directly in the Virginia elections in November of 2017: Of the 15 people that got elected, 11 of the 15 were women, African-American, LGBT--It was a real rainbow coalition.

Q: Yet Corey Stewart, the man running against you, wants to protect Confederate monuments. That`s countering what you`re describing.

KAINE: Yes, it is. But look who won last year. It wasn`t the people who want to secede or go backwards who are winning elections.

Supports the legalization of same sex marriage

Tim Kaine's answer: Yes

Mike Pence's answer: No

Evan McMullin's answer: My faith believes in traditional marriage between a man and a woman, but I recognize that not all Americans share my beliefs.

Battle for social justice: everyone deserves opportunity

Civil rights work inspired by fight to integrate schools

Confederate flag celebrates an anti-civil rights heritage

Tim Kaine noted the difference in intention; noting the flag above the South Carolina statehouse was raised in 1961 at least partially as a statement against the civil-rights movement of that era. "That's really the heritage that the flag is celebrating--an anti-civil rights heritage from the '60s," Kaine said. "And I think the day has come when we're just better than that."

Property rights important when mapping pipeline routes

Help whites and blacks find common ground

Strong supporter of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Obama fought for equal pay for women

Obama fought for fair treatment for LGBT Americans

No discrimination against nominating gay judges

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."

Same-sex couples should have the same legal rights

But reporters pressed Kaine on whether marriage is a civil right; Kaine responded, "Relationship equality is a civil right." Asked whether gay couples should be given marriage licenses, he said, "There should be a license that would entitle a committed couple to the same rights as a married couple." But would that be called a marriage license? "I think the labels get in the way of the issue," Kaine said.

2005: No gay adoption; 2011: gay adoption okay

Questions surrounding gay couples have long followed Kaine. A year ago, he said that he believed gay couples should be able to adopt if a judge determined that it was in the best interests of a child. That marked a shift from when Kaine ran for governor in 2005, when he said he opposed any unmarried couples -- gay or heterosexual -- being able to adopt children.

Kaine wouldn't say whether his position on gay marriage differed from Obama's, which the White House has said is "evolving." Kaine said, "People like to ding the president on that word but the answer is, it's exactly what's happening in society."

GOP agenda on gay marriage is divisive social legislation

A Kaine spokeswoman said, "Their support for divisive social legislation will only cause more polarization and gridlock in our politics."

Tried to pass laws favoring domestic partnerships

Apology & reconciliation for slavery, at VA's slave market

2007: pardoned leader of 1800 slave rebellion

As a result of the initiative of the Defenders of Freedom, Justice and Equality, a local organization leading a "sacred ground historical reclamation" project, a historic marker on Broad Street commemorates the courage with which Prosser and at least twenty- five coconspirators faced execution as freedom fighters in the spirit of George Washington and Patrick Henry. In 2007, Governor Tim Kaine issued a pardon recognizing Prosser's "courage and devotion to the fundamental Virginia values of freedom and equality."

First state apology for involuntary servitude of Africans

Voted YES on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act.

Amends the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 (VAWA) to add or expand definitions of several terms used in such Act, including :
1. "culturally specific services" to mean community-based services that offer culturally relevant and linguistically specific services and resources to culturally specific communities;
2. "personally identifying information" with respect to a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
3. "underserved populations" as populations that face barriers in accessing and using victim services because of geographic location, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity; and
4. "youth" to mean a person who is 11 to 24 years old.

Opponent's Argument for voting No (The Week; Huffington Post, and The Atlantic): House Republicans had objected to provisions in the Senate bill that extended VAWA's protections to lesbians, gays, immigrants, and Native Americans. For example, Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) voted against the VAWA bill because it was a "politically–motivated, constitutionally-dubious Senate version bent on dividing women into categories by race, transgender politics and sexual preference." The objections can be grouped in two broadly ideological areas--that the law is an unnecessary overreach by the federal government, and that it represents a "feminist" attack on family values. The act's grants have encouraged states to implement "mandatory-arrest" policies, under which police responding to domestic-violence calls are required to make an arrest. These policies were intended to combat the too-common situation in which a victim is intimidated into recanting an abuse accusation. Critics also say VAWA has been subject to waste, fraud, and abuse because of insufficient oversight.

Opposes defining traditional marriage.

Christian Coalition publishes a number of special voter educational materials including the Christian Coalition Voter Guides, which provide voters with critical information about where candidates stand on important faith and family issues. The Christian Coalition Voters Guide summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Maintaining current federal law defining marriage as one man and one woman"

Endorsed as "preferred" by The Feminist Majority indicating pro-women's rights.

The Feminist Majority endorses candidates for the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. In addition to the stronger "endorsement," the organization also determines "preferred" candidates in races where they do not endorse. Their mission statement:

"Our mission is to empower feminists, who are the majority, and to win equality for women at the decision-making tables of the state, nation, and the world. The Feminist Majority promotes non-discrimination on the basis of sex, race, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, religion, ethnicity, age, marital status, nation of origin, size or disability. The purpose of Feminist Majority is to promote equality for women and men, non-violence, reproductive health, peace, social justice and economic development and to enhance feminist participation in public policy. Feminist Majority supports workers’ collective bargaining, pay equity, and end of sweatshops. We encourage programs directed at the preservation of the environment."

Enforce against wage discrimination based on gender.

Congress finds the following:
1. Women have entered the workforce in record numbers over the past 50 years.
2. Despite the enactment of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, many women continue to earn significantly lower pay than men for equal work. These pay disparities exist in both the private and governmental sectors. In many instances, the pay disparities can only be due to continued intentional discrimination or the lingering effects of past discrimination.
3. The existence of such pay disparities depresses the wages of working families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to make ends meet; and undermines women's retirement security.
4. Artificial barriers to the elimination of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex continue to exist decades after the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. These barriers have resulted because the Equal Pay Act has not worked as Congress originally intended.
5. The Department of Labor and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission have important and unique responsibilities to help ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.
6. The Department of Labor is responsible for investigating and prosecuting equal pay violations, especially systemic violations, and in enforcing all of its mandates.
7. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is the primary enforcement agency for claims made under the Equal Pay Act.
8. With a stronger commitment [to enforcement], increased information on wage data and more effective remedies, women will be better able to recognize and enforce their rights.
9. Certain employers have already made great strides in eradicating unfair pay disparities in the workplace and their achievements should be recognized.

Let states recognize same sex marriage.

Congressional Summary: Amends the Defense of Marriage Act to let states recognize same sex marriage. Defines "marriage" to provide that an individual shall be considered married if that individual's marriage is valid in the state or country where the marriage was entered into. Removes the definition of "spouse" (currently, a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife).

Wikipedia and GLAAD history: In United States v. Windsor (2013), the U.S. Supreme Court declared Section 3 of DOMA unconstitutional under the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) struck down the act's provisions disallowing same-sex marriages to be performed under federal jurisdiction. The Supreme Court case did not challenge Section 2 of DOMA. Section 2 declares that all states have the right to deny recognition of the marriage of same sex couples that originated in states where they are legally recognized.

Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote NO: (3/20/2013): Americans respect marriage, not only as a crucial institution of civil society but the fundamental building block of all human civilization. This is why 41 states and the federal government affirm that marriage is between a man and a woman. The government isn't in the business of affirming our loves. Rather it leaves consenting adults free to live and love as they choose. And contrary to what some say, there is no ban on same-sex marriage. In all 50 states, two people of the same sex may choose to live together, and choose to join a religious community that blesses their relationship. What's at issue is whether the government will recognize such relationships as marriages--and compel others to recognize and affirm same-sex relationships as marriages.

Legislative outcome: Died in Committee (never came to a vote).