Wow.
Remember how excited we were when the Democratic ticket swept to victory in Virginia last fall, winning all three races? Over 400,000 Democratic base voters turned out in 2013 versus 2009, to stop the tea party backed GOP candidates, who were anti-women's healthcare, anti-choice, anti civil rights, anti-LGBT rights and anti-gay marriage, and it worked. The Tea Party candidates all lost for their views on all of these issues.
About a month ago, a federal judge struck down Virginia's constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman. Whoever would have thought that just ten short years ago, we would be sitting where we are today.
But like in other situations, all good things must com to an end.
Governor Terry McAuliffe has nominated the Reverend Dwight Jones of Richmond to be the governor's to become chairman of The Democratic Party Of Virginia. Jones, who is also the elected mayor of Richmond, is anti-gay marriage. Apparently this has kicked up a hornets nest, as so many in the LGBT community, as well as many other progressives, in Virginia and nationwide contributed money, made phone calls, and knocked on doors to get him elected.
The choice of Jones is appalling - how could a chair of a statewide democratic organization not be pro-gay equality. And why would a governor nominate someone who is anti-gay marriage, the civil rights issue of our time, and at a point of time in history in Virginia where the LGBT community is on the verge of winning the fight for their civil rights.
How is mayor and a minister going to find the time to run a state Democratic Party in one of the most important swing states in the country, with critical elections this fall, and again in 2016?
But the fact that a minister who fought for civil rights for AA's could deny members of the LCBT community their civil rights, then be rewarded with a plum appointment like this is truly troubling. I guess the polls are right - there is still a huge wall within the church going African American community that still is uncomfortable with the LGBT community and they are okay with robbing their fellow Americans of their civil rights.
Jones even issued a statement back in 2012 when President Obama voiced his support for marriage equality:
In addition to being the mayor of Richmond, Jones is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of South Richmond. When President Barack Obama declared his support for same-sex unions in 2012, Mayor Jones issued the following statement:
“This is one issue that President Obama and I disagree on. Despite this disagreement however, I applaud the efforts and work of President Obama and his administration and I will do whatever I can to ensure he is re-elected.”
If you live in Virginia, and would like to sign a petition against Jones, click here:
http://wtvr.com/...
More interesting articles on the same subject below.
http://www.blueridgemuse.com/...
http://www.gayrva.com/...
http://www.timesdispatch.com/...