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U.S. Senate hopeful Bob Marshall authored an amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Virginia. (Photo by Richmond Times-Dispatch, Bob Brown/AP)
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HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: CHRIS JOHNSON COMMENTS
 
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as governor.
“Gov. Warner’s administration was the most inclusive in modern Virginia history,” he said. “Gov. Warner has never been afraid to stand up for the civil rights of minority communities.”
However, when asked whether Warner would as senator support a hate crimes or an employment non-discrimination bill, Hall said Warner “would need to see specific language before offering an opinion.”
With regard to ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” which prevents gays from serving openly in the U.S. military, Hall said “Warner is prepared to sit down with military and other officials as he reaches a decision on whether the policy is working.”
Hall said Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, an organization working to repeal “Don’t Ask,” has contacted Warner and he is interested in the organization’s view.
In 2005, Warner as governor issued an executive order banning discrimination in Virginia state government based on sexual orientation. In 2004, Warner attempted to amend the marriage affirmation bill to strip language that would threaten private contractual rights. The Virginia Legislature, however, rejected these amendments.
Warner also in 2006 opposed the Virginia state constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
Charley Conrad, president of the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, said his organization is “100 percent behind” Warner. Conrad said Warner “has always been a friend to our community.”
Conrad said the day after Warner was inaugurated as governor, Warner and his chief of staff held a meeting with about 10 to 15 members of the gay community.
“He told us it was a historic meeting because it was the first time that a sitting governor had ever had a meeting with representatives from the GLBT community,” Conrad said.
Mason said when Warner was governor, Equality Virginia always had “the opportunity to share our positions with him, which we always found very helpful.”
A January poll by Rasmussen Reports on the Senate race in Virginia predicts that Warner would defeat Gilmore in the election by several percentage points. The poll indicates Warner would win with 53 points to Gilmore’s 38.
Warner is not the only candidate in contention for the Democratic nomination. Julien Modica, founder of the JMA Brain Trauma Recovery and Policy Institute, is also running for<
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