Tweet
The governor and attorney general think they can revoke our rights without paying a price. They hope to step on our backs and take away our freedom for their personal political careers. If we allow them to proceed without disruption, paying no price for such actions and continuing with business as usual, then we can expect others to follow in their footsteps and we should get ready to find enjoyment in being second class citizens.
– David Mixner, on the leadership in Virginia turning the civil rights clock back on higher public education institutions
Over at his blog Live From Hell’s Kitchen, social justice activist David Mixner is outraged, like many of us, at the situation in the Commonwealth of Virginia, which has been taken over by the fringe bigotry of the right wing, led by Governor Bob McDonnell and his agent of legal discrimination, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.
Rarely have we ever seen such a systematic effort to re-establish discrimination against the LGBT community as official policy since the Republicans took over Virginia in the last election. If the new generation of activists created by Proposition 8 ever needed a target, this is it.
Not only does the AG’s letter rescinding non-discrimination protections for LGBT employees raise the stakes for equal rights activism, this move effectively draws a fat red target on the backs of LGBT faculty and staff who felt it was safe to come out under the executive orders of former Govs. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Now they are out of the closet, completely exposed to any bigot with an ax to grind.
Mixner says this is probably just the beginning, with the next brazen step likely to be an effort in the state legislature to create a “Solomon” type amendment. This would slap back any campus that defies the letter’s decree, cutting off funds to them.
This is a showdown. David suggests some specific action items:
- -Our legal teams must immediately work with such institutions as the University of Virginia and other to take legal action against the Attorney General’s actions.
- -Alumni from any Virginia higher public education institution should mobilize and take action.
- -Massive protests must take place at any university that rolls back those protections.
- -Our best organizers from around the country must descend on Virginia and create the ‘civil rights’ movement that they have so energetically been proposing. They should even consider a ‘one day strike’ by students on Virginia campuses to protest the rules.
- -A massive march on Richmond with our national organizations giving us their best and brightest to make this one a huge success. We should bring tens of thousands to Richmond to protest.
- -Our brothers and sisters in the Log Cabin Republicans should organize a statement from other Republicans condemning these actions.
- -Religious leaders across the state should sign a “State of Conscience” saying despite any personal views not protecting the civil rights of LGBT citizens is morally wrong.
- -A National Statement of Conscience by our leading Nobel Prize winners, educators and professors should be created and signed by thousands urging people to avoid accepting offers to teach in Virginia.
- -A National Statement of Conscience by Student Leaders from around the country should be signed urging students not to apply to Virginia schools until the policy is changed.
- -The East Coast major cities such as Boston, Washington, DC, Baltimore and New York must mobilize resources, money and volunteers to help in such a “Virginia Campaign.”
- -Demand that Congress pass ENDA immediately to offer those who teach in Virginia protections and dignity that any citizen of this nation should have.
What do you think about these suggestions? Will we see some of our orgs jump into this fight? Personally, we need to research what companies that Virginia is trying to woo into its borders and put the word out that Commonwealth-sanctioned bigotry has just been implemented — does the Chamber of Commerce endorse this? Is Virginia a 21st century growth environment with this move? There certainly aren’t any stats to back up institutionalized discrimination by public or private entities against LGBTs is good for business. Hit the state where it hurts.
9 Comments
When VA’s General AssemblyVoted to put discrimination into their Constitution by making me a second class citizen with “Article 1, Section 15-A: Marriage: That only a union between one man and one woman may be a marriage valid in or recognized by this
Commonwealth and its political subdivisions.
This Commonwealth and its political subdivisions shall not create or recognize a legal status for relationships of
unmarried individuals that intends to approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects of marriage. Nor
shall this Commonwealth or its political subdivisions create or recognize another union, partnership, or other legal
status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.
The amendment ratified November 7, 2006, and effective January 1, 2007-Added a new section (15-A).”
I voted with my pocketbook and a moving van to the District of Columbia wherein I continue to reside without the good people of Virginia taking my taxes and persecuting me with them. I knew when this was enacted that the bilge of the religious right had won that poor state with it’s boorish calumny and its religious prevarication concerning its LGBT citizens. F()& YOU VIRGINIA, you are a lost cause.
BOYCOTT!!Boycott VA tourism and products. Period. Ask the Coors Beer company what happened when the LGBT community boycotted it’s product. It took 20 to 30 years, but our message was heard.
I have to ask
I have to ask: How many of the policies in question actually included ‘T’? As I understand it, the gubernatorial executive orders did not.
a response from a Virginian
KatRose: The Warner/Kaine Executive orders only forbade discrimination based on sexual orientation. The William & Mary faculty senate several weeks ago added “gender identity” to their college’s non-discrimination policy. As far as I know, they have been the only state institution with expressed T protections. Some reports indicated that this action at W&M was the proverbial “straw” that prompted the AG’s letter to all colleges.
I am a gay administrator at UVa who is out to my colleagues. I have a yearly contract and serve at the whim of the University and Provost. Not only is there anger at the AG and Governor, but also a developing sense of dread among my colleagues. Several are afraid to write letters, email, even or petitions in the belief that our enemies are developing the “List of Gays” to terminate our employment. This ‘chilling’ nature of speech is very palpable — and may be part of the design.
Thermo Cleanse ExtremeVirginia women can raise their kids properly by telling them that Bob McDonnell and people like him are un-American.
Thermo Cleanse Extreme
Northrup GrummanNG is currently moving their corporate HQ from Los Angles to the DC area. Northern VA is lobbying heavily to get them to locate there since they already have close to 100,000 employees in VA (40,000 at the Newport News Ship/drydock) – DC and MD are also lobbying. Its only 400 corporate exec types.. but would be a big signal if they didnt locate there… As a native Northern Virginian is saddens me to no end that this is happening here. I get tired of the “told you so’s” to family and friends that supported these neanderthals (oh sorry.. that presumes they believe in them). I doubt boycotts will help – remember these are the same people that closed the public school systems for years rather than integrate.
As soon as federal workers get DP benefits or DOMA is overturned.. I will no longer have the energy to stay here and fight. Its just pissing into the wind. Yes my taxes and insurance will double crossing the river.. yes I’ll become disenfranchised… but I will leave knowing that $30K in taxes I pay to educate their children, pave their roads and support them will be gone. THATS the economic boycott that will hurt them.
When I told my straight neighbors that we were considering getting out of here they were shocked. That I might dump my house and further tumble the value of their homes was even scarier… think before you vote next time!
I personally feel overwhelmed and shocked but in a good way….Call to arms to the gay community aside, I gotta say props to the students and faculty and corporations just beginning to rally around their institutions for this battle. Most of whom not only understand the impact of this kind of backdoor legislating but recognize the con of the Virginia state administration. While the Governor plays good cop to the Ag’s bad cop. Nothing is so heart-warming in the face of discrimination Than to witness so many from the community step up with you. Give them a few weeks and let’s not paint all of Virginia with one broad brush. Because I got a feeling the students and faculty and organizations and corporations of Virginia might prove much more effective than Gay Inc’s desire to bulldoze the entire situation simply because the Administration of Virginia is having a stupid attack.
Vote with your feetMy partner was in the administration of a private university in Virginia until recently. We saw the writing on the wall when the state passed the amendment banning any recognition of same sex relationships. We raised 2 children and while he had no legal relationship with them, he helped put them through college, assumed financial responsibility for them and was a fantastic step parent. Once the kids graduated from high school, we made the decision to leave Virginia to live in a state that legally recognizes our love and commitment to one another.Yes, we took a significant salary cut. And while our standard of living may be a bit more modest, our quality of life is much, much better than when we lived in Virginia. I can tell you, there are much better places to live, work and pay taxes than that state. To those who live in Virginia, I would encourage you to consider voting with your feet. There is a better world out there!
The statement of conscience for student leaders…is the best idea… Discouraging students from out of state and (especially) abroad from applying to Virginia schools, encouraging in-state students to go out of state whenever possible AND discouraging faculty and staff from applying for jobs at VA schools would really hurt.
From an economic perspective, this is an insanely stupid idea on the part of the AG. Universities are an essential resource for states, and all this will do is scare people — especially smart and talented people — away from VA schools. He’s creating a hostile and exclusionary environment where any state least needs it.
Also, state universities don’t get all of their funding from the government — they get a lot of it from donors as well. This might create some legal hurdles for this policy, especially if students and faculty can get the trustees on their side.