Virginia Partisans recommends Moran

In a press release late yesterday, the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club “recommends” Brian Moran for Governor. The organization, which dates back to 1990, generally does not endorse in primary elections.

The entire press release is below the fold.

UPDATE: I just received Moran’s statement on the Partisans support. It, too, is below the fold.

April 20, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

VIRGINIA PARTISANS RECOMMENDS BRIAN MORAN FOR GOVERNOR

The Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club today recommended that equality-minded voters support Brian Moran in the Democratic Primary for Governor on June 9.

“All of the Democratic candidates are far superior to the Republican candidate on equality issues,” said Charley Conrad, Partisans President. “Whoever wins the Democratic primary will have our endorsement in the general election. But in the primary, it’s clear that Brian Moran stands head and shoulders above the competition in terms of support for equality and LGBT rights.”

In making the recommendation, the Virginia Partisans Board of Directors considered the candidates’ track record on issues as well as their current campaign positions. All three candidates – former Delegate Moran, state Senator Creigh Deeds, and former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe – were asked to complete a questionnaire on issues of concern to the LGBT community, and each was interviewed by the Board.

“Brian Moran is clearly the most LGBT-positive candidate who has ever run for Governor of Virginia, ” Conrad noted. “Throughout his career, he’s been with us 100% of the time – not just in terms of his voting record, but also in the leadership positions he has taken in support of equality. And even now, during this campaign, he continues to push pro-equality positions, despite the fact that they may cost him votes downstate.”

While other nearby states are actively debating marriage rights or expanding civil union benefits, gays in Virginia are still reeling from the passage of the anti-gay-marriage Marshall-Newman Constitutional Amendment in 2006. How the candidates dealt with the issue at that time is informative:

· The two houses of the state legislature each had approximately 15 recorded votes related to the amendment proposal, including attempts to kill the proposal, to amend it, to change the wording on the ballot itself, and for final passage each of 2 years. Moran voted with the LGBT community’s interests on all of those votes. Deeds voted with us part of the time, but against us on final passage. McAuliffe wasn’t a member of the legislature so has no record to compare with.

· During the public campaign on the amendment, Moran was an early and vocal leader among elected officials in opposing it, and he campaigned statewide against it. Through his leadership and efforts, other top Democratic elected officials also followed suit, including Gov. Tim Kaine, former Gov. (and now Sen.) Mark Warner, and then-candidate Sen. James Webb. To his credit, during the public campaign, Deeds said he had made a mistake in voting for the amendment in the legislature and publicly campaigned for a “no” vote by the public. McAuliffe, a private citizen in Virginia at the time, says he voted against the amendment, but there is no record of him campaigning against it in the way the other two candidates did.

· During the current gubernatorial campaign, Moran continues his leadership on this issue, urging the amendment’s prompt repeal during candidate debates and forums and on the campaign trail. On this and other issues of importance to the LGBT community, Deeds says he is a “work in progress” and, indeed, his positions over time have evolved to be more and more progressive on equality issues. McAuliffe’s position has been that these issues shouldn’t be debated during the primary – preferring that the election be entirely about economic and management issues.

“On many issues, all three candidates are solidly on our side,” Conrad noted. “All three are with us on the need for gay-straight alliances in our schools, for anti-bullying efforts, for equality in housing and employment, and on hate crimes legislation. If I were passing out grades, I’d have to give both Deeds and McAuliffe a B – they’re both better than average on our issues.”

“But the A student in this class is clearly Brian Moran,” Conrad concludes. “There’s no question that he ‘gets it’ – and that he’s willing to stick his neck out on behalf of our community. We should all hope for – and work for – his nomination and election as Virginia’s next Governor!”

And here is Brian Moran’s statement:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Moran Statement on Partisans Support

~ Fighting for Equality~

ALEXANDRIA – Brian Moran made the following statement after the Virginia Partisans Gay and Lesbian Democratic Club recommended equality-minded voters support his candidacy for Governor. Moran has consistently been a fighter for equality over 13 years in the General Assembly and is the only candidate for Governor to consistently vote against, speak out against and campaign against the anti-gay Marshall-Newman amendment in 2006. At the first debate on Sunday, Moran was the only candidate for Governor willing to repeal that amendment if elected.

“Equality is a fundamental value that makes us Democrats,” Moran said. “I’m proud that the Virginia Partisans recognizes my career-long fight to break down barriers and ensure equality. Virginians know where I will stand on this issue because they know where I have stood. Leadership isn’t easy.”

Moran supports full contract rights for LGBT Virginians including domestic partnership benefits, hospital visitation rights, contract rights, and other benefits. Those were all made unconstitutional by the 2006 amendment. Moran also supports the inclusion of sexual orientation in Virginia’s hate crimes statute.

Brian Moran has a 20-year record of fighting for the people of Virginia. He was Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and a Delegate from Alexandria City and Fairfax County. Prior to that, he served as a prosecutor in Arlington County.