STATEMENT OF TERRY MANSBERGER, PRESIDENT OF AND ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE VIRGINIA PARTISANS GAY & LESBIAN DEMOCRATIC CLUB, March 9, 2010
On behalf of Virginia's statewide gay and lesbian Democratic organization, the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club, I strongly denounce the brazen effort by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to strip existing protections away from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) citizens of Virginia, as evidenced by his letter to Virginia's colleges and universities last week.
We believe that all Virginians, regardless of political party or sexual orientation, should be alarmed by the negative consequences of Cuccinelli's action on the advancement of civil liberties in our state and the perception of the Commonwealth’s business/economic growth environment nationwide. Further, his actions will have a chilling effect on recruitment and retention of talented staff and students across the higher education community of Virginia affecting our ability to compete for the best and brightest students and teachers.
We remind all Virginians, especially Independents and Democrats in particular, that elections really do have consequences and the “moderate GOP” ticket that was elected last Fall has quickly shown their true intentions. We expect that this is just the first shot in what will become a concerted effort by the new Governor and the state Republicans to chip away at the rights of LGBT Virginians, not by legislative action but through “opinions” and thinly veiled threats of the Attorney General’s office. As a result, we urge all fair-minded public officials and other statewide leaders to denounce and condemn Cuccinelli for his inflammatory action as a reminder to him that the inherent right to equal protection under the law exists for all citizens of this state without exception.
As Democrats, we are incensed by this new, unprovoked escalation of the politics of hate and division, and pledge to take a new sense of urgency and commitment into the next round of state elections to ensure that a Democratic majority in the state legislature will soon bury actions like Cuccinelli's under a new avalanche of pro-equality and civil rights legislation.
Terry Mansberger, President
Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Club
571-331-8194, president@vapartisans.org
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Nicholas F. Benton
Owner/Editor
Falls Church News-Press
nfbenton@fcnp.com
www.fcnp.com
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