People of Faith for Equality in Virginia

Who We Are:

We are an interfaith network of people who all share one thing- a deep commitment to our faith tradition, which kindles our deep commitment to social justice. As rabbis, ministers, priests, and lay people, we are all dedicated to working for equal rights for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Virginia. We recognize that LGBT citizens are not faceless and nameless, but are members of our religious communities and our families, friends, neighbors, and people with whom we do business. We also recognize that God loves and sustains all of creation and that we must act when any part of that creation is endangered- physically, emotionally, or spiritually- by misunderstanding, hate, and discrimination.

LGBT VA News

Richmond Times Dispatch "Gay Prosecutor's Rejection Lands VA Back in the Spotlight" This article highlights responses to Thorne-Begland's rejection to the 13th General District Court in Richmond. Richmond Commonwealth's Attorney Michael N. Herring, Thorne-Begland's boss, had the following to say:

"It is hard to think about what happened at the General Assembly and not conclude that it is a form of bigotry," He went on to add, "It causes people around the country to question Virginia's ability to be tolerant and to be inclusive." View his complete comments here .

NY Times "Gay Prosecutor Is Denied Virginia Judgeship Despite Bipartisan Support"

This article also highlights responses to Thonre-Begland's rejection, including a statement by Virginia State Senator and POFEV Board Member Donald McEachin, who said, "We are on the wrong side of history on this one."

Your Obsession Is Showing

by Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline, President

The past ten days have been topsy-turvy, to say the least. Last week Sunday, Vice President Biden spoke up for marriage. Then, on Tuesday, North Carolina voters dealt marriage a heavy blow. Then on Wednesday, the President spoke up for marriage, standing foursquare with Biden.

Tracy_Thorne_Begland2 Today, in the middle of the night, the House of Delegates in Virginia went back, saying “No” to the nomination of Tracy Thorne-Begland for a district court judgeship in Richmond, and saying, in effect, if you are gay, don’t expect to be approved for any office. For many of us, it felt like a request that we simply leave “their” commonwealth.

What has been done to Tracy Thorne-Begland is shameful. The opposition in the House—all Republicans—have taken the good name, the sterling reputation, of a decorated Navy “top gun” airman and dedicated public servant and dragged it through the mud. Fortunately, his character is strong, and too many people know him well so that the mud will only stick to his critics.

Tracy_pilot A truly unsettling aspect to this is how easy it is for people to twist the act of a patriot in challenging unjust laws into some sort of nefarious and dangerous activism. The truth of Tracy’s advocacy against discrimination in the military is that he was right in 1992 and it only took Congress, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and others 19 years to finally catch up to him. That is of course the real truth here: the 31 Republicans who voted against his confirmation (and probably some who hid and did not vote) really yearn for a return to the good old days of anti-LGBT military policies. And based on their votes against women’s reproductive health needs they want to return to a few other old ways as well.

Perhaps even more unsettling is the statement by Delegate Bob Marshall that “if a polygamist had an otherwise sterling reputation he would not be qualified because that is against the law - likewise Thorne-Begland admits he has a partner and Virginia has a marriage law therefore he is not qualified.” This is of course, is both insulting and utterly wrong legally. And the claim is a direct contradiction of what Marshall said in 2006 when he was promoting the anti-marriage amendment he had written.