Speak Out: VA Dems Say GOP Ticket Is Anti-Gay, Bad for Business

Democratic Party Chair of Virginia Charniele Herring, state Sen. Adam Ebbin and gay-rights advocate James Parrish held a teleconference Tuesday afternoon lambasting the “dangerous and hateful attacks on gay and lesbian Virginians that Republican candidates Ken Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson have made a centerpiece of their careers.”

Herring asked why an employer would want to bring business to the commonwealth when gubernatorial candidate Cuccinelli and lieutenant governor candidate Jackson “demonize” gay employees.

“It’s damaging to our commonwealth’s reputation as an inclusive place to live,” she said.

Jackson has labeled gay people perverted and “frankly very sick people psychologically, mentally and emotionally,” according to the Virginian-Pilot.

Cuccinelli in 2009 also told the Virginian-Pilot: “My view is that homosexual acts — not homosexuality — but homosexual acts are wrong. They are intrinsically wrong.”

Herring noted that Cuccinelli in 2010 urged the state's public colleges and universities to rescind policies banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

“In Virginia, we value diversity and we don’t believe in attacks on specific groups,” said Ebbin, who is gay.

Parrish, who is executive director of Equality Virginia, said the ticket’s “impact is bigger than just cruel comments. ... It’s 2013, when walls are put up around Virginia by Cuccinelli and Jackson, it hurts.”

In his acceptance speech as candidate for governor this week, Cucinelli said he sought to foster a “more competitive economic environment that encourages our businesses to invest and grow.”

What do you think? Is Virginia's GOP ticket for governor and attorney general right for Virginia?

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