I wasn’t planning to post on this story (“Would Northam win elevate gay-baiting Republican?“), but I just received the following statement from the Northam for LG campaign and felt that I should pass it along. This whole thing is making my brain hurt. Other than that, I continue to strongly support Aneesh Chopra for the Democratic LG nomination, but not because of this story.
Since taking office in 2008, Ralph Northam has supported marriage equality, voted against discrimination at every turn, and has earned a 100% rating from Equality Virginia. His record includes voting to allow same-sex couples to adopt, to outlaw discrimination in the work place, to extend health insurance to domestic partners, and to confirm the first openly LGBT judge. When he was attacked by Republicans in his 2011 reelection for his support of the LGBT community, he stood up for equality and won.
This is in fact the same Jay Ford. Several years ago, he apologized to Delegate Sickles in the General Assembly building and Delegate Sickles accepted the apology. Jay had evolved politically to become a progressive Democrat, and particularly on the issue of LGBT equality.
Back in 2011 when Jay Ford was hired by Northam for Senate, it was Sean Holihan, board member of Equality Virginia and former Virginia Young Democrats President, who recommended him to the campaign because of his advocacy for Democratic values through the Virginia Young Democrats.
P.S. I definitely agree with NLS on this point: “Unfortunately, the Northam team in this primary has been extremely insular and secretive so the rest of us are left wondering about the Senator who wants to be the tie-breaking vote in the Virginia Senate.”
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