Month: January 2014
Equality Virginia responds to AG Mark Herring’s decision to support freedom to marry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 23, 2014
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, [email protected]; 804.643.4816
The following statement can be attributed to James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia:
“Attorney General Mark Herring’s decision to stand with the majority of Virginians for the freedom to marry is truly commendable. This is a new day for loving gay and lesbian couples who want to marry the person they love in the state they call home. Thanks to Mark Herring, today we are one step closer to equality and fairness for LGBT Virginians.”
Senate committee vote on workplace non-discrimination bill (SB 248) is setback for LGBT equality
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – January 20, 2014
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, [email protected]; 804.643.4816
The following statement can be attributed to James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia:
“Today Senators Ruff, Stosch, Martin, Stuart, Black, Reeves, and Garrett stood in the path to progress and equality by killing a bill that passed the Senate last year with clear bi-partisan support. These Senators refuse to acknowledge what the Virginia public and business community have long understood: protecting LGBT employees is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense and will contribute to the overall success of the commonwealth.
SB 248 would have protected all state employees from workplace non-discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Despite today’s temporary setback, executive order one, signed by Governor McAuliffe, will protect the state’s LGBT employees while he remains in office. Equality Virginia and our coalition partners will continue to work to codify executive order one to protect state LGBT employees from discrimination.”
Equality Virginia to March in Saturday’s 2014 Inaugural Parade
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 9, 2014
Contact: Kirsten Bokenkamp, [email protected]; 804.643.4816
RICHMOND – Equality Virginia and more than 50 of its supporters from around the commonwealth will proudly march in the 2014 Inaugural Parade on Saturday, January 11, in Richmond.
Equality Virginia was invited to participate in the parade by the Terry McAuliffe Inaugural Committee. ”We are honored to be part of the celebration and happy to welcome Terry McAuliffe as Virginias next governor,” said James Parrish, executive director of Equality Virginia. “To march in the inaugural parade next to other organizations representing the diversity of the commonwealth is a landmark moment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Virginians and reflects that achieving LGBT rights is on the horizon.”
Throughout his campaign, Terry McAuliffe actively supported LGBT Rights. He has publically expressed his support for marriage equality and said that his first executive order will be to protect LGBT state employees from discrimination in the workplace.
There is no doubt that the commonwealth is moving toward equality. Equality Virginia looks forward to working with Governor McAuliffe and other elected officials to ensure that Virginia will soon be a welcoming place for all families to live and work. Equality Virginia will be carrying a 25 foot portion of a 1.25 mile long Sea to Sea Rainbow Flag that was originally used in Key West in 2003.
The 2014 inaugural parade will be held immediately after the Inaugural Ceremony at Capitol Square. For more information, go to www.inauguration2014.com.
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Equality Virginia is a statewide, non-partisan education, outreach, and advocacy organization seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Virginians. Since 1989, EV has worked to end discrimination, protect families and build safe communities. More information is online at EqualityVirginia.org. Connect on Facebook.com/EqualityVA or Twitter @EqualityVA.