It's no longer a matter of "if", but "when." Marriage equality will come to every state, including Virginia. Last week, two Norfolk men filed suit challenging Virginia's marriage inequality. Three days later, an Ohio judge issued a restraining order which forbade the registrar of deaths from accepting a death certificate that did not reflect that … Continue reading The day will come
The Zimmerman trial exposed what many are unwilling to acknowledge: there remains a deep racial divide in this country. The Washington Post released poll numbers yesterday on the verdict, but the issue is really deeper: In the Post-ABC News poll, 86 percent of African Americans say blacks and other minorities do not get equal treatment … Continue reading Two Americas
A few articles that caught my eye: Let's enact a new Voting Rights Act. Some commonsense solutions in here. I suggested to Rep. Bobby Scott, after last November's long voting lines, that the federal government implement voting procedures for its races that would be the same across the country. (That is pretty much what happened … Continue reading Quick hits 07/22/13
It's not often that I find myself in agreement with Joe Scarborough but his opinion on the George Zimmerman case was pretty close to my own reaction. Shortly after the verdict was announced, I had to turn off the TV and shut down Twitter and Facebook. I just couldn't take it. Most of what I … Continue reading The verdict
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday. While there has been a lot of hand-wringing over the Supreme Court's ruling last week, in which the court threw out the coverage formula in section 4, which affects the preclearance rules of section 5, little attention has been paid to the other sections of … Continue reading ICYMI: After the ruling on the Voting Rights Act
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Friday. While the topic is DOMA, the title is derived from this Emily Dickinson poem included in it: Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul And sings the tune without the words And never stops at all. Virginia is among the states … Continue reading ICYMI: Perched in the soul
Quite a day yesterday! For those living in the 13 states - I'm including California in that number - and the District of Columbia, a hearty congratulations on federal recognition of your marriage! Now, get ready for the marriage penalty on your joint federal returns 🙂 And don't wait until next April to figure out … Continue reading DOMA is Dead
High drama in Texas last night as Texas State Senator Wendy Davis filibustered an abortion bill. The bill would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics that perform the procedure to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. Also, doctors would be required to have admitting privileges at … Continue reading Political theater, Texas style
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. Sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture is one that I have had in my home office for 13 years. It is from my 40th birthday party. This August, it will have been 40 years since I first met Helene, my math … Continue reading ICYMI: Taking on ALS
The local OFA group is holding a "Remembering Newtown" vigil Friday at 6:30 at the fountain in Town Center in Virginia Beach. The public is invited.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 