Members of the Democratic House and Senate caucuses at Equality Virginia’s 2016 Day of Action and Legislative Reception – Photo: Equality Virginia, via Facebook.
Two pro-equality bills that passed the Virginia Senate with unanimous support from Democrats and one-third of the Republican Senate caucus have been assigned to a House subcommittee, likely the last step before both measures are inevitably defeated.
Both Sen. Adam Ebbin’s (D-Alexandria) bill to prohibit anti-LGBTQ discrimination in public employment, and Sen. Jennifer Wexton’s (D-Leesburg) bill to prohibit housing discrimination reach the subcommitteeĀ just as hundreds of LGBTQ advocates are descending on Richmond in order to lobby lawmakers to give the bills a chance as part of Equality Virginia’s Day of Action.
Held annually, the Day of Action seeks to empower LGBTQ advocates and allies by allowing them a chance to express their concerns to their elected officials during a morning session at the state Capitol. In the afternoon, Equality Virginia has eightĀ different hour-long sessions to provide advice on current LGBTQ legal issues, ways to get engaged with activism, and how to organize on the grassroots level to affect change. The day wraps up with a reception in the evening.
Unfortunately for those lobbying legislators today, a number of pro-LGBTQ bills have already been killed — most of them in House subcommittees — earlier this session. Luckily, some of the more severe anti-LGBTQ bills, such as one that would have instituted a North Carolina-style bathroom law on the commonwealth, or one that would have permitted blatant discrimination by companies or organizations that contract with the state, have also been defeated.Ā
Ebbin and Wexton’s bills are the last two chances for pro-LGBTQĀ legislation to pass this session. But bothĀ face a huge hurdle in the HouseĀ because of the partisan makeup of subcommittees, which Republicans control by 5-2 margins, due to Democrats holding only 34 of 100 seats in the lower chamber.
Additionally, many of the subcommittees where LGBTQ-related bills would typically be assigned are often stacked with Republicans from districts or areas of the state where opposition to LGBTQ rights is strong. For instance, Republicans from Northern Virginia, more socially liberal parts of Hampton Roads, orĀ those representing swing areas or college towns are almost never seated on committees dealing with LGBTQ rights. As a result, bills are killed in subcommittee, often by voice vote, which allows Republican lawmakers to avoidĀ on-the-record floor votes. Because there is no record of a firm stance on a certain issue, lawmakersĀ can appeal to conservative interest groups like the Family Foundation of Virginia while avoiding being tarred as anti-LGBTQ in the eyes ofĀ more socially liberal voters.
In the end, the fate ofĀ Ebbin and Wexton’s nondiscrimination bills will be considered by a small group of seven lawmakers, rather than the full 100-member House. ThoseĀ lawmakers are:Ā Delegates Keith Hodges (R-Urbanna),Ā Tommy Wright (R-Victoria),Ā Barry Knight (R-Virginia Beach),Ā Dickie Bell (R-Staunton),Ā Jay Leftwich (R-Chesapeake), Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond City), andĀ Lashrecse Aird (D-Petersburg).
Treven Michael Gokey was arrested by Phoenix police on September 17 for allegedly threatening to shoot up Cruisinā 7th, a popular gay bar near his Arizona apartment. He faces felony charges of making a terroristic threat and using a computer to threaten, after blaming the LGBTQ community for recent acts of violence.
According to court documents, police were called to the 39-year-old's apartment for a welfare check after a crisis hotline reported he had threatened to shoot up the bar, claiming he was ātriggered by political events.ā
Edward O'Keefe, owner of Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore's Abell neighborhood, says a man maced two people outside the brewery as they were leaving "Butch Garden," a queer community event held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, reports NBC affiliate WBAL.
According to charging documents, police received a call around 9:30 p.m. reporting that someone with a plastic baton was trying to attack him.
At Abell Avenue and 32nd Street, a few blocks from the brewery, a police officer saw a man in dark clothing running east. The man was later identified as 34-year-old Matthew Middleton. When the officer approached and asked what was happening, Middleton allegedly said he had been chased.
Social conservatives are claiming vindication for their views after Robin Westman, the 23-year-old behind the August 27 mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis, was identified as transgender by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in an X post.
Armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, Westman fired dozens of rounds into the church during a morning Mass attended by students from the affiliated Annunciation Catholic School, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OāHara said, as reported by The Associated Press.
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