David and Shayna joined more than 1,300 supporters of equal rights at Equality Virginia’s annual Commonwealth Dinner in Richmond yesterday. Former Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Charles Robb electrified the crowd with a keynote address in which he vigorously denounced discrimination against GLBT people and declared his intention to vote NO on the constitutional amendment before voters this fall that would ban any legal recognition for relationships of unmarried individuals, including civil unions and domestic partnerships. During the dinner, the newly-formed Commonwealth Coalition launched its campaign to prevent the passage of the amendment, which David fought in committee and on the House floor during his first minutes and days in office.
“It’s inspiring to be surrounded by so many people form all across Virginia willing to stand up and fight for equal rights,” said David. “This constitutional amendment flies in the face of American values, and Team Englin will be working closely with the Commonwealth Coalition to defeat it. As November approaches, our house will again transform into Campaign Central as our grassroots volunteers make phone calls and knock on doors to persuade others to Vote NO.”
For more information about the campaign to defeat the amendment, please visit the Commonwealth Coalition web site at www.votenova.org.
A letter by Governor Timothy Kaine, read at the event by the Honorable Viola Baskerville, Secretary of Administration for the Commonwealth, urged all Virginians to join Governor Kaine in voting NO on the amendment. Kaine called the amendment a “divisive measure (that) is stealing from the important issues — transportation, education, health care and the environment — that truly affect all Virginians.”
