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Northern Virginia Pride - BREAKING NEWS!
BREAKING NEWS: MARRIAGE EQUALITY IN VIRGINIA A REALITY!

The Happiest Valentine's Day EVER!

MARCH 2012

 



Judge Arenda Wright Allen's long-awaited decision in the Bostic vs McDonnell case is finally here, and, at least for a moment. marriage equality has come to The Old Dominion at long last!  
This decision is stayed pending appeal, which means that marriages will not immediately proceed, but this is a CRUCIAL step toward equality in Virginia, an cannot be overstated.  

NOVA Pride is pleased to congratulate the two couples in this case as well as the entire LGBT community of Virginia as we join  Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Washington, Maine, Maryland, California, Delaware, Rhode Island, Minnesota, New Jersey, Hawaii, New Mexico, Illinois, and Washington DC with full equality as well as Utah and Oklahoma, which are currently awaiting appeal for full equality, and Kentucky, where a judge has ruled that out of state gay marriages must be recognized.

THE FIGHT HAS JUST BEGUN

Though the courts have ruled that the constitutional amendment is unconstitutional (is that ironic, or what?), this is just the beginning.  The Supreme Court of the United States fell short of extending mandatory transfer/recognition of marriage licenses from state to state for LGBT Americans last year, and legislative bans have not been overturned.  In the majority of this country, Gay Marriage is illegal.  LGBT Virginians still face the threat of getting fired and evicted solely due to their sexuality.  Gay men cannot give blood.  Attacks on LGBT Virginians aren't considered hate crimes.  HIV/AIDS is still stigmatized, resources are dwindling, and infection rates are on the rise again, especially among MSM (men who have sex with men).  Violence against transgendered individuals is commonplace.  Suicide among LGBT youth is at epidemic proportions.  Discriminating against, demonizing and marginalizing LGBT people is being legislatively reinforced by law in many corners of America and defended as "freedom of speech" just as quickly as equality progresses elsewhere.  The Olympic Games are being held in one of the most anti-LGBT countries in the world, despite the public outcry.  Injustice against LGBT people worldwide is blatantly overlooked every day.

Don't get me wrong - we are INCREDIBLY excited.  For the past two hours, I've celebrated on teary-eyed phone calls with board members that I will never forget.  This is the biggest step forward we've ever taken in Virginia, and we should absolutely celebrate this victory.  But tomorrow, we at Northern VA Pride will continue the fight.  We will keep advocating.  We will keep educating.  We will keep celebrating.  We will keep fighting community tensions, and encouraging unity and respect among neighbors in our community.

Northern VA Pride isn't me.  It isn't our board.  It isn't a clique of friends.  It isn't just the 'L,' or just the 'G,' the 'B,' the 'T,' the 'Q,' or the 'A.' It's all of us: you, me, and all Northern Virginians; for that matter, all Virginians, Americans, Humans - REGARDLESS of who or how we love - that stand together as neighbors because we are all part of the same community.

As I wish you all safe and warm evenings, I have a small request: Please consider making a $25 tax-deductible donation to Northern VA Pride tonight.  We are growing fast, and need all the support we can get to reach our goals for the year!

Thank you for your part in this milestone achievement for LGBT Virginians!

Brian

Brian Reach
President, Northern VA Pride
www.novapride.org
@northernvapride
facebook.com/northernvapride

The fight for LGBT equality in Virginia has just begun!   Make a $25 donation on Valentine's Day to celebrate this achievement and help move Virginia forward!

 

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