The question, as always, is what is *wrong* with these people, and also who in hell votes for them? In this case, dozens of Virginia House Republicans voted against resolutions that you’d think would be absolutely no-brainers: 1) HJ136, “Express[ing] the sense of the General Assembly in recognizing that global warming caused by human activity that increases emissions of greenhouse gases has resulted in a climate and ecological emergency”; 2) HJ10, “Designat[ing] June 1, in 2020 and in each succeeding year, as Gun Violence Awareness Day in Virginia”; 3) HJ85, “Designates November 20, in 2020 and in each succeeding year, as Transgender Day of Remembrance in Virginia”; and 4) HJ91, “Affirm[ing] the state’s commitment to diversity and safeguarding the civil rights and dignity of all Virginians.”
On HJ91, check out the absurd discussion, after House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R) proposes an amendment to, basically, strike any language referring to specific groups (e.g., ” New Americans, Muslim Americans, Jewish Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, LGBTQ Americans, Americans with disabilities, and other racial, ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities”). Because, supposedly, mentioning these groups is divisive or some such bullshit. Needless to say, Gilbert’s assinine amendment was roundly rejected, except by a few dozen of his hard-right Republican colleagues. And they wonder they they keep losing elections in increasingly diverse places like Virginia? Duh.
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