2008 Northern Virginia Voter’s Guide
to GLBT Issues
Researched and Produced by:
Equality Prince William, Equality Fairfax, Equality Loudoun, Arlington Gay & Lesbian Alliance,
and Alexandria Gay & Lesbian
Community Association
The organizations sponsoring this guide are non-profit in nature. The information provided below is factual and does not imply endorsement by the organizations (unless stated). It is provided to assist our members in conducting their own research. It is our hope that it will aid members in arriving at meaningful, intelligent decisions, based on voting records and publicly stated positions on issues of import to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and allied communities. Candidates are listed alphabetically according to office.
President
Senator John McCain (R-Arizona)
Human Rights Campaign Scores
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Declined to sponsor Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Declined to sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
- Voted NO on extending sexual orientation to Federal Hate Crimes Law
- Declined to sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Other Votes
- 2000 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), restricting Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states. Passed, 85-14.
- 1996 – Voted NO to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Bill failed in Senate, 49-50.
- 1993 – Voted YES to establish “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Motion to strike language failed in Senate, 33-63
Stated positions
- Supports California Ballot measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, 2008
- Believes that “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy is “working,” 2008
- Stated that while he could choose a Vice-President candidate who was pro-choice, could not choose one who is “pro-gay rights,” 2008
Endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans by a 12-2 vote of their board of directors
Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois)
Human Rights Campaign Scores
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Co-Sponsored Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage
Stated Positions
- Supports ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in U.S. Military, allowing
openly gay soldiers to serve, 2008 - Opposes California Ballot measure to constitutionally ban same-sex marriage, 2008
- Believes being gay is not a choice, 2007
- Co-Sponsored Legislation to extend Domestic Partner Benefits to Federal Employees, 2007
- Opposes same-sex marriage rights but supports civil unions, 2006, 2007
- Supports Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act that restricts Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states, 2004
Endorsed by the National Stonewall Democrats
Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign
Vice President
Senator Joe Biden (D-Delaware)
Human Rights Campaign Scores
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Co-Sponsored Hate Crimes Legislation adding sexual orientation to coverage
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Co-Sponsored Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
- Voted YES on extending sexual orientation to Federal Hate Crimes Law
- Co-Sponsored Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA)
Other Votes
- 2000 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), restricting Federal Government to only recognize opposite-sex gender marriages performed by the states. Passed, 85-14
- 1996 – Voted YES to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). Bill failed in Senate, 49-50
- 1993 – Opposed establishment of “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. Motion failed in Senate, 33-63
Stated positions
- Supports ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in U.S. Military, allowing openly gay soldiers to serve, 2008
- Supports NO vote to Proposition 8 in California, which would constitutionally ban same-sex marriage after it was legalized in California this year, 2008
- Supports civil unions, declares same-sex marriage “inevitable,” 2007
- Believes that same-sex marriage is “probably inevitable,” 2003
Endorsed by the National Stonewall Democrats
Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign
Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska)
No Human Rights Campaign Scores available (only scored for U.S. House and Senate)
Stated Positions
- Announced support for Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) constitutionally banning same-sex marriage as part of the U.S. Constitution, 2008
- Believes being gay is “a choice,” 2008
- Disagreed with Alaskan Supreme Court decision to mandate domestic partner workplace benefits for state employees, 2007
- Opposes same-sex marriage rights, no stated position on civil unions, 2006
- Supported non-binding resolution to deny state health benefits to same-sex couples, 2006
- Opposes domestic partner benefits in Alaska, 2006
- Supported 1998 Alaska Constitutional Amendment to ban same-sex marriage, 2006
Endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans by a 12-2 vote of their board of directors
United States Senate
Former Governor Jim Gilmore (R)
Stated Positions
- Proclaims support of Virginia’s Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment barring recognition of same-sex couples through marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, or “other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage,” Campaign website, 2008
- Campaigned for constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in New Hampshire, 2007, more information, 2007
Former Governor Mark Warner (D)
Stated Positions
- Added sexual orientation to Virginia state government’s nondiscrimination policy by executive order, 2005, reflected on campaign website, 2008
- Opposed Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006
- Attempted to weaken state law (HB751) which legislatively forbids recognition of same-sex marriages, civil unions, and domestic partnerships in Virginia. Veto-overruled, 2004
- Signed bill permitting Virginia institutions to offer same-sex domestic partner benefits if they choose; Virginia had been the only state to bar this ability, 2004
- Supports extending Virginia’s hate crimes law to include sexual orientation, 2001
Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club
United States House of Representatives
Not sure what district you’re in? Click here and find out!
10th Congressional District
(portions Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Frederick, Warren, Clarke Counties, cities of Winchester, Manassas and Manassas Park)
Stated Positions
- Opposed Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006
- Discusses Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment, 2006
Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008
Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2006
Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, 2006
Human Rights Campaign Scores
- Voted YES on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Voted NO to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crimes statues
- Voted YES on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Co-Sponsored Federal Marriage Amendment
- Voted NO to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crime statues
- Declined to co-sponsor Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.
- Declined to adopt written policy in own office indicating sexual orientation not a hiring factor.
Other Votes
- 2007 – Voted NO to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace. Bill passed House 235-184, stalled in Senate.
- 1999 – Voted YES to bar District of Columbia from permitting same sex couples from adopting. Bill amendment failed, 213-215.
- 1996 – Voted YES on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Bill passed, 342-67.
11th Congressional District
(Fairfax and Prince William
Counties, Fairfax City)
Fairfax County Chairman Gerry Connolly (D)
Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008
No information was available regarding this candidate’s position on GLBT issues.
8th Congressional District
(Arlington and Fairfax
Counties, cities of Alexandria and Falls Church)
Endorsed by the Virginia Log Cabin Republicans, 2008 – no link provided, VALCR does not mention the endorsement on their website.
Stated Positions
- Supported Marshall Newman Marriage Amendment, 2008.
- Opposes same-sex marriage but supports Civil Unions, 2008.
Human Rights Campaign Scores
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Voted YES to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crimes statues
- Voted NO on Federal Marriage Amendment
- Voted YES to add sexual orientation to Federal hate crime statues
- Co-sponsor of Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace.
- Adopted written policy in own office indicating sexual orientation not a hiring factor.
Other Votes
- 2007 – Voted YES to pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace. Bill passed House 235-184, stalled in Senate.
- 1999 – Voted NO to bar District of Columbia from permitting same sex couples from adopting. Bill amendment failed, 213-215.
- 1996 - Voted NO on Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Bill passed, 342-67.
Stated Positions
- Supports same-sex marriage rights, 2004
- Editorialized in favor of ending “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy of barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the U.S. armed forces, 2005.
Endorsed by the Virginia Partisans Gay & Lesbian Democratic Club, 2008
Endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, 2006
1st Congressional District
(Prince William, Stafford, Spotsylvania Counties, Counties of the Northern and Middle Neck, extending down to Williamsburg)
No information was available regarding this candidate’s position on GLBT issues.
Rep. Rob Wittman (R-incumbent)
Rep. Wittman took office in December 2007 after a special election. As such the Human Rights Campaign has not yet ranked his voting record.
Other Votes
- 2007 – Voted YES to severely restrict Gay-Straight Alliances in public schools (as Virginia State Delegate). Bill passed House 82-15, Failed in Senate.
- 2007 – Voted YES to pass hospital visitation rights bill (as Virginia State Delegate). Bill passed House 100-0. Delegate Wittman was a co-sponsor of this bill.
- 2006 – Voted YES to pass Virginia Marshall-Newman Marriage Amendment (as Virginia State Delegate) barring recognition of same-sex couples through marriage, civil unions, domestic partnerships, or “other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits, obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage.” Passed 64-35, 74-20.
Stated Positions
- Signed statement that he will not discriminate based on sexual orientation in his office, 2007 (as Virginia State Delegate).