According to VPAP, there are going to be 13 Democratic primaries for House of Delegates this June 11. Who are the candidates and where do they stand on some key issues –moving towards 100% clean energy and protecting the environment, preventing gun violence, defending women’s reproductive choice and access, fighting for LGBTQ equality, expanding healthcare access and quality, promoting sustainable economic development, addressing the opioid epidemic, etc.? For part 1, on clean energy/environment, click here. For part 2, on preventing gun violence, click here. For part 3, on defending women’s reproductive choice and access, click here. For part 4, on fighting for LGBTQ equality, see below (note: I’m sure I didn’t find everything, so feel free to let me know if you find material that you think should be added…)
House District 18 (Fauquier, Culpeper, Warren, Rappahannock Counties; 60% Gillespie district; Republican incumbent Michael Webert)
Tristan Shields – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality.
Laura Galante – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality.
House District 20 (Augusta County, Staunton City, Waynesboro City, Nelson County, Highland County; 57% Gillespie district; Republican incumbent Dickie Bell)
Jennifer Lewis – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality. Lewis was endorsed by VA LGBT+ Democrats in her 2018 run for Congress. Also see here for Lewis shredding “a bizarre questionnaire and rabid letter from a known LGBTQ hate group.” And see here for Lewis writing, “Make no mistake – I believe everyone should be treated fairly and equally under the law, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. I believe our families and communities are stronger when we accept and embrace the notion that #LoveisLove.”
David Blanchard – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality.
House District 26 (Harrisonburg City, Rockingham County; 53% Gillespie district; Republican incumbent Tony Wilt)
Brent Finnegan – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality. The LBGT Dems of Virginia endorsed Finnegan in 2017.
Cathy Copeland – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality. After my post, her campaign updated the website. It now reads: “Support and defend the rights of disenfranchised communities, especially minorities and LGBTQ. Include sexual orientation and gender identity to be legally protected from workplace discrimination”
House District 38 (Fairfax County; 73% Northam district)
Del. Kaye Kory – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality. According to Project Vote Smart, Kory received 100% ratings from Equality Virginia in 2012 and 2013. Equality Virginia endorsed Kory in 2017.
Andres Felipe Jimenez – On his website, says: “America symbolizes equality of opportunity for people of all races, origins, religions and creeds. An individual’s sexual orientation absolutely should not serve as a disqualification for that equality. While our society has become increasingly enlightened over the years, discrimination against those in the LGBTQ community still very much exists. As a Delegate I promise to stand up for the freedom to marry, fight to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in the workplace, and work to give all families a fair chance to succeed. In this day and age, there is no place whatsoever for discrimination and I will proudly defend equality for all. ”
House District 49 (Arlington and Fairfax Counties; 82% Northam district)
Del. Alfonso Lopez – On his website, Lopez pledges to “Expand employment and housing protections for members of the LGBTQ communities” and to “Codify employment non-discrimination and allow local governments to have non-discrimination policies for their employees.” In this questionnaire, Lopez writes that he “was a member of Equality Virginia (EV) and a Charter Member of the Commonwealth Coalition.” He adds that, “In 2006, I helped fight efforts in the General Assembly to pass the Marshall-Newman Amendment (which curbed marriage equality in Virginia)”; that he “support[s] efforts to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, and in other areas of our society”; that he believes “LGBT couples should be entitled to all of the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities as straight couples”; that he supports “age-appropriate, non-judgmental information on sexuality, tolerance, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexually transmitted infections, and contraception”; that he supports “requir[ing] that all schools receiving federal funding to prohibit bullying and harassment, including on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity”; etc. Lopez has previously been endorsed by Equality Virginia as an “LGBT-Friendly Candidate” (e.g., see here).
J.D. Spain – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality. [UPDATE 4/13: Spain has now added the following language – “Protecting the rights of the LGBTQ commmunity and in all instances, bringing attention to the issues that adversely affect these commuities.”]
House District 50 (Prince William County, Manassas City; 58% Northam district)
Del. Lee Carter – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality. ” See here for Carter speaking in support of ensuring that teachers feel safe in the classroom “and don’t have to worry about whether or not they’re going to be fired based on who they love.” In his 2017 responses to Equality Virginia’s questionnaire, Carter pledged to sign EV’s non-discrimination statement; advocated for banning “conversion therapy”; said that he opposed housing discrimination based on sexual orientation or identity; argued that the Marshall-Newman anti-same-sex-marriage amendment should be repealed; and vowed, “I will never back down from this fight [for LGBTQ equality].” Equality Virginia endorsed Carter in 2017.
Mark Wolfe – On his website, says: “My fundamental, unshakable belief is that every citizen is equal before the law and is entitled to equal treatment by the government. Your gender, race, age, ethnicity, religion, who you love, whatever, is absolutely irrelevant. We are all entitled to equality before the Law.”
House District 52 (Prince William County; 76% Northam district)
Del. Luke Torian – I don’t see an issues page on his website or any information on his positions regarding LGBTQ equality. Per Project Vote Smart, Torian received a 100% score from Equality Virginia in 2013 and a 50% score in 2012. VA LGBT+ Democrats have previously endorsed Torian, although apparently not in 2017.
Kevin Wade – Don’t see a website for him.
House District 57 (Charlottesville City, Albemarle County; 79% Northam district)
Sally Hudson – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality.
Kathy Galvin – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality.
House District 62 (Chesterfield, Henrico, Prince George County and Hopewell City; 49% Gillespie/Northam district)
Tavorise Marks – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality.
Lindsey Dougherty – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality.
House District 87 (Loudoun, Prince William Counties; 64% Northam district)
Suhas Subramanyam – On his website, he writes: “No Virginian should be treated differently because of their race, sexual orientation, gender, or beliefs. We cannot continue to thrive as a Commonwealth if we are not all provided with equal protection under the law. That is why as your Delegate, I will fight for a statewide fairness ordinance, work tirelessly to ensure that we ratify the equal rights amendment, and updating Virginia housing, employment, and hate crime laws to prevent LGBTQ+ discrimination.”
Hassan Ahmad – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality. See this article about how Ahmad helped represent and defend a Ugandan woman who was raped and tortured for being gay.
Akshay Bhamidipati – I don’t see a detailed issues section on his website or anything about LGBTQ equality.
Johanna Gusman – I don’t see a detailed issues section or anything about LGBTQ equality. She did retweet the Human Rights Campaign, “.@HRC proudly celebrates International Transgender Day of Visibility 2019.“
House District 88 (Spotsylvania, Stafford, Fauquier Counties and Fredericksburg City; 54% Ed Gillespie district; Republican incumbent Mark Cole)
Jess Foster – On her website, she writes: “I support the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. Race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation should not be a barrier to any opportunity. We must focus our efforts on ensuring the protection of racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities by passing laws that include them and repealing laws that hold them back.”
Kecia S. Evans – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality.
House District 91 (Hampton City, York County, Poquoson City; 51% Ed Gillespie district)
Michael Wade – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality.
Martha Mugler – I don’t see anything on her website about LGBTQ equality, other than the general phrase, “equal rights for all Virginians.”
House District 96 (James City County, York County; 53% Gillespie district)
Rebecca Leser – On her website, she says she “Supports ending the harmful and dangerous practice of conversion therapy” and “Supports gender and LGBT equality”
Mark Downey – I don’t see anything on his website about LGBTQ equality.
Chris Mayfield – On his website, writes: “Chris supports legislation, long blocked by Republicans in Richmond, protecting gay and lesbian Virginians against discrimination in housing and employment. And now that the Supreme Court has upheld the right of all Americans to marry whomever they love, he supports removing the now-obsolete “marriage amendment” from Virginia’s constitution.”
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